SRINAGAR, August 20, 2026 : PDP leader Iltija Mufti on Wednesday accused the National Conference-led Jammu and Kashmir Government of failing to adequately address the concerns of Kashmir’s fruit growers, warning that continued neglect could severely impact the Valley’s vital horticulture sector.
Mufti made the remarks while participating in a protest by fruit growers at Jablipora Fruit Mandi in Bijbehara, south Kashmir, where orchardists raised concerns over recurring crop losses, financial liabilities and inadequate Government support.
She alleged that apple growers were not receiving the attention and assistance they urgently required from the NC-led administration.
“The NC Government is not giving proper attention to the issues of the apple growers,” Mufti said.
Mufti Raises Concerns Over Horticulture Sector
Mufti also accused the Centre of allegedly favouring “some capitalists” at the expense of local fruit growers, cautioning that such policies could weaken Kashmir’s horticulture-based economy.
“To favour some capitalists, you want the fruit economy of Kashmir to collapse and we will not let that happen. We stand with the fruit growers and we will keep raising our voice till they get some relief,” she said.
She said fruit growers had suffered repeated setbacks because of natural calamities, road disruptions and other challenges, leaving many orchardists under mounting financial pressure.
According to Mufti, a similar protest had earlier been planned in Shopian but was not permitted, following which growers gathered at Jablipora Fruit Mandi to voice their grievances.
Demand for Immediate Government Action
Mufti questioned the effectiveness of visits by ministers and senior officials to Kashmir if such visits were not followed by concrete measures to address the problems confronting orchardists.
Among the key demands raised by the protesting growers was the immediate implementation of a comprehensive crop insurance scheme to protect orchardists against losses caused by hailstorms, road closures and other natural calamities.
She also called for a waiver of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans for affected farmers, highlighting the growing burden of debt and interest on orchardists already struggling with crop losses.
The PDP leader further demanded adequate compensation for damaged crops and subsidies to help growers install protective nets to minimise losses from adverse weather conditions.
Better Infrastructure for Fruit Growers
Mufti stressed the need to strengthen Kashmir’s post-harvest infrastructure, including the expansion of cold-storage facilities, improved transportation networks and dedicated green corridors to facilitate the faster movement of fruit from orchards to markets.
She underlined the importance of horticulture to Kashmir’s overall economy, noting that the sector has historically provided crucial economic support during difficult periods.
“Horticulture is important for Kashmir’s economy. In difficult times, one thing kept the economy better and that was due to the horticulture sector,” she said.
The protest has once again brought the longstanding concerns of Kashmir’s fruit growers into focus, with orchardists seeking stronger Government intervention, financial relief, crop protection measures and improved market infrastructure to safeguard the Valley’s horticulture economy.
