Kashmir apple growers seek revival of market intervention scheme amid payment delay

Shopian, Sep 30: As the apple harvest peaks across Kashmir, growers are once again demanding the revival of the government-backed Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), citing widespread payment delays and bounced cheques from private traders that have left many orchardists in deep financial distress.

Farmers say that the lack of a government safety net has forced them to rely entirely on private buyers who often default on payments, leaving small and marginal growers trapped in cycles of debt.

“In Shopian alone, it is common for traders to procure apples and then delay payments for weeks or even months. Bounced cheques are a routine problem here,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a fruit grower. “Farmers are left helpless, with no option but to borrow money to meet their expenses.”

MIS: A safety net withdrawn

The MIS, introduced in 2019, provided a measure of stability by ensuring the procurement of apples directly by government agencies at pre-fixed rates, shielding growers from market fluctuations and unscrupulous practices.

Under the scheme, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) purchased over 15,700 metric tonnes of apples valued at Rs 70.45 crore between September 2019 and January 2020. The programme, later extended until March 2020, has not been renewed since then.

“Back then, MIS gave us security. We were assured that our produce would fetch fair prices and timely payments,” recalled a grower from Zainapora. “Today, we feel abandoned.”

Farmers’ bodies raise alarm

Expressing concern, All India Kisan Sabha (J&K) president Ghulam Mohammad Bhat said the reintroduction of MIS is now critical. “At a time when traders exploit farmers through delayed payments and bounced cheques, MIS remains the only solution to secure reasonable returns for small and marginal orchardists,” he said.

Civil society members also echoed the demand. Mitha Gatoo, a Shopian-based cultivator and activist, called the scheme a “lifeline” for growers. “MIS freed farmers from the clutches of commission agents and middlemen who exploit them. Without it, the small grower is at the mercy of traders with no guarantee of being paid,” he said.

Financial stress mounts

Growers warned that the absence of safeguards is pushing many orchardists into a debt trap. They rely on yearly earnings not just to sustain their families but also to repay agricultural loans and fund the next cultivation cycle.

“This has created a cycle of financial stress, particularly for small orchard owners who depend entirely on their annual apple income,” Gatoo added. “Farmers are desperate—so desperate that they often approach civil society groups for intervention.”

With the apple harvest underway and thousands of tonnes of produce hitting the markets, growers say the government must step in immediately to protect the Valley’s most important horticultural sector.

“Reviving MIS is not just about economics,” said a senior fruit trader in Shopian. “It is about saving the livelihoods of thousands of families who depend on apples.”