Agriculture Minister Attends Buyer-Seller Meet to Find New Markets
WS/VP DESK
Srinagar, Sep 20: As the fruit industry in Kashmir faces huge losses due to the recent closure of the national highway—the only road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country—Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar has begun another tour outside the region.
In a social media post as per the Web Story/The Varmul Post, Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar stated, “Attended the Buyer-Seller Meet in Kolkata, organized by the J&K Horticulture P&M Department to connect J&K farmers with national buyers.”
He added, “Privileged to showcase J&K’s finest produce in a hub of trade and commerce as part of our efforts to strengthen marketing opportunities for our farmers.”
Notably, fruit growers in Kashmir are going through one of their worst phases, reporting significant losses amounting to crores due to the recent closure of the national highway.
The crisis began at a time when the Agriculture Minister was out of the country on an official tour in Australia.
On Friday, the president of Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi, Fayaz Ahmed Malik (Kakaji), told The Web Story/The Varmul Post that the Agriculture Minister’s absence has deeply affected them. “Had he been here, perhaps we would not have had to face this situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, according to sources, the Agriculture Minister—despite being a son of the soil skipped a visit to Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi, even though it is located in his native area.
Sources also indicated that the Minister recently returned from a trip to Australia. Although he had been part of an event at the world-famous health resort, Gulmarg, earlier this week, he did not visit the Sopore fruit mandi.
Further reports suggest that relations may be strained between the Agriculture Minister and his once-close aide, Sopore Fruit Industry President Kakaji.
