Expressed his concern over poor production of mutton and wool in our state.
Vakil expressed grave concern over developing situation in Kashmir due to the unfortunate incident of fire at Hazrat Dastgeer Sahib (RA)
GNS Achabal Sopore, 29 July 2012: Former minister and AICC member Abdul Gani Vakil has expressed his grave concern over what he termed as neglected fruit industry of Jammu and Kashmir State. He said over five lakh people were associated with horticulture produce and were solely dependent on this industry for their livelihood but uncared for 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 were not able to grow and compete with other growers of Himachal Pradesh. The poor marketing policy as well as conventional packaging system being encouraged by the state government was taking its toll on the fruit growers who were in dire need of support from government at this juncture.
The senior Congress leader said there is no cold storage facility available to the fruit growers as well which could otherwise have helped them save their produce and maintain quality as well. Expressing his concern over conventional methods and machineries being used in Doabgah juice factory, he said that 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 had ever bothered to assess the damages caused to the crops of these fruit growers or compensate them. 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.
After tourism, horticulture he said was second biggest employment generating sector in our state which should not be ignored. He said that government’s inability to have a new and upgraded marketing policy at par with other states especially Himachal Pradesh could have made a big difference in the lives of fruit growers in Jammu and Kashmir State.
Most of the fruits in our state either get destroyed while packing, in transportation or during storage and in the given situation cold storage facility and modern packaging units could have helped fruit growers in a big way. Vakil also expressed his concern over poor production of mutton and wool in our state.
He said that despite having number of pastures the government was not able to help breeders to take care of their animals like Sheep and goat. IT was because of this lackadaisical attitude of government that still government importing animals from Rajasthan and other neighboring states to meet the gap of mutton production and its demand. He hoped that government will pay attention towards these neglected sectors and help those in to the trade sustain.
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. A resolution was also passed in the convention which grief and concern was expressed over this unfortunate incident of fire which resulted in burning holy shrine and it was strongly demanded that the reconstruction should be started as early as possible as the genuine sentiments of the people are connected with it.
Besides others who addressed the convention include Senior Congress leader and MLC Haji Ali Mohammad Bhat, General Secretary J&K PCC Dr. Abdul Ahad Yatoo, Sr. Vice President DCC Baramulla Haji Mohammad Afzal Khan, and Youth Congress leader Altaf Ahmad Malik
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