Agriculture, horticulture plunged into crisis by J

Srinagar, May 26 (UNI) Expressing regret that negligence towards agriculture and horticulture has plunged these sectors into greater crises, the Communist Party of India (M) said both the sectors had fallen into decay and had been buried under a pile of empty slogans.

The State secretary of the CPI(M) M Y Tarigami said the successive governments had failed to take radical measures for abolishing Jagirdari System.

Mr Tarigami regretted that the total absence of modern infrastructure has rendered this sector as most primitive, which had heaped untold miseries upon the entire rural population.

He warned that the continuing neglect of this primary sector would be a costly folly which could plunge the entire state into deep economic crisis and social unrest.

He said that despite tall claims by the government the agriculture and horticulture production remained stagnant.

Mr Targami said we are yet to achieve targets in vegetables, fish, meat and other commodities.

Our horticulture products are dwindling by each passing day.

World famous apple, almond, walnut, Ladakhi Khobani and even saffron crop cannot face world market, in the absence of infrastructure and technological aid to the grower. Olive crop production with great potential is not being encouraged, he added.

Mr Tarigami demanded to introduce special Crops Insurance Scheme for all types of crops, provide quality seeds, pesticides and fertilisers to farmers, provide rural infrastructure and incentives to marginal fruit growers, introduce Marketing Information System (MIS), promotion of horticulture, floriculture, fish culture and storage and transport facilities for the export of Kashmiri fruit.

UNI BAS RJ HT1658