Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone has asked the government to allocate more money in the budget for the horticulture sector. This sector is the backbone of the valley and plays a key role in the economy of the union territory. He said that the horticulture sector is the lifeline, providing employment and supporting a huge number of families, but it is still neglected.
The turnover of the horticulture sector is about Rs 10,000 crore, and it contributes 8% to the GDP. However, the government allocates only just Rs 700 crore for the sector in this year’s budget, which is less than 1%,” Lone pointed out.
He stressed that if the sector receives ₹8,000 crore in funding, matching its GDP contribution, it could create thousands of new jobs. “This ministry has huge potential to tackle unemployment, as jobs are becoming scarce. Horticulture is one of the few sectors where employment can still grow,” he added.
Lone also compared traditional apple farming, which yields 10 tons per hectare, to modern high-density farming that can produce 40-50 tons per hectare. However, despite a 50% subsidy, farmers struggle to afford this transition. He urged the government to provide stronger financial support to help farmers adopt advanced techniques.
Besides this, he stressed corporate investments in horticulture and urged the government to provide protection to local apple growers and save them from fake pesticides. Lone wants to modernize J&K’s horticulture sector; then new employment opportunities will be created and increase farmers income as well.
