04/08/2026
Press Statement
Former MLA Rafiabad & Youth President, Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party, Yawar Ahmad Mir
Former MLA Rafiabad and Youth President of the Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party, Yawar Ahmad Mir, today expressed serious concern over the persistent hardships faced by fruit growers across Jammu & Kashmir.
He said that fruit growers are the backbone of the Union Territory's economy, with thousands of families depending on horticulture for their livelihood. Despite their invaluable contribution, they continue to suffer every year due to poor road connectivity, frequent highway disruptions, escalating transportation costs, adverse weather conditions, and inadequate compensation for crop losses.
Yawar Ahmad Mir termed it unfortunate that despite repeated assurances from the authorities, growers are still forced to struggle to transport and market their produce on time. He said that prolonged highway closures, traffic bottlenecks, and the lack of adequate cold storage and modern post-harvest facilities result in significant financial losses, pushing farming families into distress.
He demanded timely compensation for weather-related damages, comprehensive crop insurance coverage, improved market access, better storage infrastructure, and uninterrupted movement of fruit-laden vehicles during the harvesting season to safeguard the interests of growers.
Reaffirming the party's commitment, Yawar Ahmad Mir said that the Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party stands firmly with the farming community and will continue to raise their genuine concerns at every platform until practical and lasting solutions are implemented.
"The prosperity of Jammu & Kashmir is closely linked to the prosperity of our farmers and fruit growers. Their voice must be heard, their hard work must be respected, and their concerns must be addressed with the urgency they deserve," he said.
