Srinagar, September 23 : The Jammu and Kashmir Apple Farmers Federation has raised concerns over discrimination faced by Kashmir’s fruit growers. Trucks loaded with apples, pears, and other fruits are being stopped on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, while vehicles from Jammu move freely.
Fredration President, Zahoor Ahmad Rather in a statement to KNS, said that hundreds of trucks are stranded during the crucial harvest season, causing spoilage and losses worth crores of rupees. He added that this situation is threatening the livelihoods of lakhs of families who rely on the timely delivery of their produce
The Federation has demanded an immediate end to discriminatory traffic practices, priority passage for perishable fruit, compensation for affected growers, and clear measures to prevent similar crises in the future. Rather said, “Lakhs of hardworking growers are losing their year’s produce due to indifference and discrimination. Urgent intervention from authorities is needed.”(KNS)
