Kashmir Valley fruit growers are urging the government to revive the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), considering this year's significant proportion of low-grade (C-grade) apple produce. According to fruit growers, the MIS, implemented by a previous administration, provided essential support to farmers by guaranteeing a minimum price for their produce, even if it was damaged for any reason.
President Bashir Ahmad Basheer of the All Kashmir Fruit Growers Union said that under this scheme, the government purchased all subpar products at a minimum cost, ensuring that high-quality produce was still accessible outside of Jammu and Kashmir. "This year, an estimated 30-40% of the apple harvest has been categorized as C-grade due to the weather-related challenges faced by the farmers. Despite sending several appeals to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) administration, no concrete action has been taken on the ground to reinstate the MIS scheme."
Source: greaterkashmir.com