Mohammad Younus Bhat is not impressed with the government’s offer to buy apples from farmers in Jammu and Kashmir at double the market rate. Mr. Bhat of Shopian in south Kashmir, the largest apple producing area in J&K, says he cannot betray his trade partners of several decades in Lucknow and Delhi. J&K contributes to over 70% of the apple production in the country. The official restrictions were followed by threats and attacks by militants on fruit growers and farmers in the Valley against selling their produce to the government. Also Read Kashmir apples to escape lockdownAn official said the government was offering ₹900 a box instead of the ₹500 fixed by the dealers before the clampdown.

Source: The Hindu September 28, 2019 22:00 UTC