Reeling Under Loss, Kashmir’s Apple Farmers Demand Relief Package

Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh has demanded that Centre should announce relief package for Kashmir farmers soon.

“Around 30-50 percent of apple orchards in Kashmir have been destroyed completely. Matam ka mahaul hai (There is an atmosphere of mourning),” farmer leader Shiv Kumar Sharma aka Kakkaji, informed reporters at a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday, 26 November.

Addressing the media, Tanwir Ahmed Dar, an apple farmer from Langate tehsil in Kupwara said,

“Proper survey to assess the loss to orchard owners hasn’t been done by officials yet. One department estimates it to be 25 percent, another department pegs it at 30 percent, so they will take at least a month to arrive at a consensus on crop loss, when will the farmer get relief?”

Tanwir Ahmed Dar, Apple Farmer, Kupwara

Following the abrogation of Article 370 in August and heavy snowfall in Kashmir, farmers have been hit by crop damage and are reeling under financial distress.

This was the second press conference to be organised by farmer leaders in the capital in last 10 days. They are demanding that damage to crops in Kashmir be declared a natural calamity by the Centre.

While the earlier press conference was conducted by AIKSCC (All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee), the recent press conference was organised by Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, whose representatives have just returned after visiting 25 villages in Kashmir between 21 and 25 November.

Kakkaji, who had led the 2017 Mandsaur farmer protests, further elaborated on the plight of the farmers,

“No announcement has been made by the government so far. It’s a Taliban state in terms of facilities for farmers. One box of apples that was usually sold for Rs 700 is now being sold at Rs 300. Who will fill in for this loss?”

Shiv Kumar Sharma aka Kakkaji, President, Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh

Speaking to The Quint, Tanwir Ahmed Dar explained how the lockdown affected the transportation of apples and why the farmers in Kashmir are in dire need of a relief package,

“There was no phone connectivity so anyone who was in touch with contacts in Delhi didn’t know where to send the apples. This led to the delay (in transport). This should be considered as a natural disaster and our loans should be waived.”

Tanwir Ahmed Dar, Apple Farmer, Kupwara

Amanjeet Singh, a resident of north Kashmir and an apple farmer from Baramulla, is of the opinion that the Kisan Credit Card loan has added to the woes of farmers with the debts on farmers ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. He commented,

“Not a single farmer in Kashmir is in a position to repay the loan. Also the snow season is likely to continue for few months and the banks will put pressure on farmers to repay the loan with interest.”

Amanjeet Singh, Apple Farmer, Baramulla

The farmer leaders also told the reporters in Tuesday’s press conference that the state agency NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd) has been able to procure only 309 trucks of apples thus far, while the usual average is in lakhs, annually.

Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh has demanded compensation for Kashmir farmers and wants the Centre to announce a relief package soon.