Kashmir violence dooms fruit export

Jammu, September 26 (KIP):  The most affected people in Kashmir are apple growers. There are hundreds of people who deal with the cultivation of various varieties of fruit which is perishable. As far as apple growers are concerned; Kashmir exports apples worth Rs.1500 crores. During the last two months dealers have not been able to find people who could pluck the apple and after grading it pack them in boxes.

Fruit growers are worried and whatever labour is available to them is used for packing the apple without grading them which could get less returns in markets outside Kashmir. In fact growers say that cherry fruit is lost to violence as it could not be plucked on time for exporting to other states. Most of the labourers from Bihar, UP have already left the valley because of violence.

And the hoteliers, houseboat owners and guest house owners have suffered heavy losses because of turmoil, incident of violence forced tourists to cut short their stay and others cancelled their reservation.

Those connected with tourism and travel says that there is still a chance for people to earn much needed money if separatists call for peace becomes a permanent affair.

The turmoil in Kashmir has its impact on tea growers and dealers in Assam. With growing tension between India and Pakistan Assam tea, is not being exported to Pakistan and Bangladesh.

It may cost several hundred crores of rupees losses to the tea growers in Assam. However, the signs of improvement in the security scenario in Kashmir seem to have given some hope to tea growers in Assam. Reports said that Assam tea may be exported to Bangladesh and later to Pakistan.

Besides this the Government had decided to formulate a new employment scheme under which several hundred boys could be given a chance to get gainful employment. That programme too has been affected because of violence. (KIP)