Jammu, February 17, 2026 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Para on Tuesday urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to convene an all-party meeting to deliberate on the impact of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with foreign countries, warning that such deals pose a grave threat to the Union Territory’s horticulture sector, particularly the apple industry, which forms the backbone of Kashmir’s rural economy.
Speaking during discussions on departmental allocations in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Para said a collective political stand was essential to safeguard farmers’ interests. He proposed that after consensus, a joint appeal be made to the Prime Minister to reconsider or recalibrate trade policies affecting domestic fruit growers.
Para stressed that economic revival, employment generation and long-term peace in the region are deeply interconnected.
“For Kashmir, unemployment and our efforts to move away from militancy after a prolonged phase are directly linked to economic recovery. That recovery is impossible without protecting our apple industry,” he said.
FTAs a Cross-Party Concern
Calling the Indo–US trade agreement and similar pacts with countries like the US, Australia, New Zealand and European nations a non-partisan issue, Para urged the Chief Minister to convene a meeting involving BJP, Congress and all opposition parties, besides the ruling dispensation.
“This is everyone’s issue — of the opposition, the BJP, the Congress and the government alike,” he asserted.
He echoed concerns earlier raised by Congress MLA G A Mir, saying anxiety and resentment were growing among apple growers and landholders across Jammu and Kashmir over the potential flooding of markets with cheaper imported fruit.
Apple Sector Under Strain
Highlighting structural challenges, the Pulwama MLA noted that although nearly 30 lakh kanals of land are under apple cultivation in J&K, only about 30,000 kanals have so far been brought under high-density plantation (HDP). He called for urgent scaling up of the programme and sought interest-free loans under existing banking schemes, pointing out that farmers could recover investments within two years.
While praising government initiatives such as drip irrigation, hail nets, HDP programmes and improved storage facilities, Para said districts like Pulwama and Shopian had shown promising results. However, he stressed the need for greater awareness and outreach in north and central Kashmir.
Irrigation, Infrastructure & Trade Bottlenecks
Para flagged a growing irrigation crisis, citing hurdles in constructing borewells under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) due to objections from the groundwater department and an official circular barring such works, which he said had escalated costs manifold.
He also alleged delays in the release of funds by the Jal Shakti Department, attributing stalled works to House committee-related issues.
Raising the issue of trade infrastructure, Para called for revival of the dry port sanctioned for Jammu, which was approved following an agreement signed in Dubai during the tenure of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. He said the project, now stalled, could significantly boost trade in the region.
MGNREGA for Irrigation Relief
As a long-term solution, the PDP MLA suggested undertaking desilting of streams, rivers and irrigation canals in a mission mode under MGNREGA, with proper mapping by the Rural Development Department, saying it would address irrigation woes while delivering tangible benefits to rural communities.
