Deputy Chief Minister discusses farmers issues with Bharatiya Kisan Union delegation
SRINAGAR, JUNE 08: Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Surinder Choudhary held a detailed discussion today with a delegation of the Bharatiya Kisan Union led by its National Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait regarding various issues concerning the farming community across Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation called on the Deputy Chief Minister at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar and submitted a memorandum highlighting key demands aimed at protecting and strengthening the agricultural, horticultural, and allied sectors. During the interaction, Surinder Choudhary reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring sustainable agricultural growth, enhancing farmers’ incomes, and promoting holistic rural development, assuring the delegation that all genuine demands would be examined on priority.
Emphasizing the need for stronger institutional support, the Deputy Chief Minister called for the establishment of Kisan Bhawans in both Srinagar and Jammu to facilitate greater engagement with farmers and provide an effective platform for addressing their grievances. Highlighting the economic importance of the horticulture sector, he advocated for the introduction of special air-conditioned railway bogies for the transportation and export of apples and other perishable produce to ensure timely and safe market access across the country.
He also noted that Jammu and Kashmir possesses immense potential for organic farming and urged growers to adopt pesticide-free cultivation practices to enhance the quality, marketability, and value of local produce.The discussion also touched upon import challenges affecting local produce, tariff-related concerns, market linkages, and transportation bottlenecks.
The memorandum submitted by the Bharatiya Kisan Union sought protection for domestic horticulture through higher import duties on foreign products, particularly apples, to safeguard the interests of local growers.
Additionally, the delegation demanded enhanced subsidies of up to 90 percent for anti-hail nets, expanded modern cold storage infrastructure, a comprehensive policy for subsidized fodder for dairy and poultry farmers, transparent subsidy schemes, new fruit processing and canning units, strengthened crop insurance, and effective measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
The visiting delegation also included General Secretary Yudhvir Singh, Secretary Dharamvir Singh, Subash Chowdhary, and representatives from various districts of Kashmir.