Sopore, June28: Former minister and AICC member Abdul Gani Vakil has expressed grave concern over “neglected fruit industry of J&K.” He said: “Over five lakh people here are associated with horticulture and are solely dependent on this industry for their livelihood. But indifferent attitude of government towards these people in Sopore has left many high and dry.”
 Addressing a party convention at Achabal Sopore today Vakil said the fruit growers are being extended no incentives due to which they are not able to grow and compete with growers of Himachal Pradesh.  “The poor marketing policy as well as conventional packaging system being encouraged by the state government is taking its toll on the fruit growers who are in dire need of support from government at this juncture,” he said. The senior Congress leader said the critical infrastructure was not available in the fruit sector.  Expressing his concern over conventional methods and machineries being used in Doabgah juice factory, he said there was also a need of upgrading entire infrastructure so that better quality fruit juices are produced.
 During past few years the fruit growers have been badly hit due to unpredictable weather conditions, hail storms and hostile conditions but no one from the government side ever bothered to assess the damages caused to the crops or compensate the farmers. Vakil urged the chief minister Omar Abdullah to pay attention towards this sector and help fruit growers in a bigger way by extending incentives towards them. Expressing his grave concern over developing situation in Kashmir due to the unfortunate incident of fire which broke out in the shrine of Hazrat Dastgeer Sahib (RA), Vakil said that former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during his visit to the shrine too has assured that the shrine will be rebuilt in record time.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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