Kulgam: Apple Farmers Federation held a daylong conference of Yaripora Tehsil in District Kulgam with the slogan “Save Apple Save Kashmir”.
The conference was attended by hundreds of kisans of the area.
While addressing the conference Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami said that claims of development in Jammu and Kashmir are mismatching on the ground.
Referring to the problems and issues faced by the apple growers, he said apple provides livelihood to thousands of families but these farmers are facing severe distress due to lack of remunerative price and non-availability of storage facilities. “All claims of development remain hollow unless the livelihood issues of common people are not addressed.”
Tarigami said that an alarming rise in unemployment has created uncertainty among the educated youth. No recruitment is taking place thus youth are facing alienation. “Scheme workers who are getting meagre wages are not being paid on time. Businesses have been shattered in the last few years. People are suffering because of the wrong policies of the government.”
Referring to the installation of smart meters in urban as well as rural areas, Tarigami said people are resisting the move. “The generation of power on our water resources is being supplied to people at unaffordable rates. The livelihood issues of people have been totally ignored.”
“The basic denial of democracy and democratic rights of the people is seen most acutely in the failure to hold assembly elections. Even after the delimitation exercise that was weighted to favour particular party’s interests and reduced the representation of the people of Kashmir valley, the Central government is reluctant to hold elections. CPI(M), therefore, demands that elections be held for the J&K assembly immediately for the restoration of democracy,” said Tarigami.
He demanded the release of all political prisoners languishing in and outside jails.
The conference demanded 100% import duty on foreign apples, provision of fertilizers and pesticides at subsidized rates to apple farmers, and construction of cold stores in every apple-producing district.
Others who spoke on the occasion include Kisan leaders Zahoor Ahmad Rather, Abdul Rashid, Ramesh Bhat and Bashir Ahmad Wani.
Mohamad Afzal Parry DDC chairperson, Kulgam and Mohmad Abass Rather DDC member also spoke on the occasion.
