JK News Today
Srinagar, October 21:
Apni Party on Wednesday welcomed the union government’s approval for extension of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for apple procurement in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) for the current season 2020-21.
In a statement issued here, Javid Hassan Baig, spokesman of the Party said that Apni Party had vehemently raised this demand with the top leadership of the country. “It is appreciable that the Central government has conceded our party’s demand and approved extension of MIS which will benefit lakhs of families across Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Baig said the orchardists and fruit growers would get benefitted by the direct procurement of their apple crop by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) through Directorate of Planning and Marketing, Department of Horticulture and Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture Processing and Marketing Corporation.
“The direct procurement of apple from the farmers of J&K and the payment to be made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into Bank account of apple farmers is the uniqueness of MIS for which the Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari put all his efforts to make it possible,” Baig added.
He said over 12 Lac Metric Tonne of apples can be procured under this scheme and it is heartening that the Government of India has also allowed NAFED to utilize Government Guarantee of Rs. 2,500 Crore for this operation.
“Our party also welcomes the union government’s decision to get the procurement process of apples monitored by the central government constituted Monitoring Committee led by Cabinet Secretary at the union level and committee on implementation and Coordination led by Chief Secretary at the UT Level,” he added.
Baig said the announcement of the Government of India will provide an effective marketing platform to apple growers and will facilitate employment generation for the local people.
