Bharat Priye leads protest at border village Najwal

•  Flags serious concerns over Indo-US trade deal impact on J&K  farming community

JAMMU: JKPCC Kissan Department Chairman Bharat Priye on Sunday led a strong protest at border village Najwal, voicing serious concerns over the proposed Indo-US Trade Deal and its potential repercussions on the agriculture, horticulture, and overall economy of Jammu & Kashmir.

Addressing a large gathering of farmers and local residents, Bharat Priye termed the proposed trade arrangement as “deeply concerning” for small and marginal farmers of the Union Territory. He said that J&K’s agrarian economy, already grappling with border tensions, erratic weather patterns, rising input costs, and inadequate market support, could face severe setbacks if agricultural imports are liberalized without safeguarding local interests.

He warned that the influx of subsidized agricultural and horticultural products from the United States could adversely affect apple growers, basmati cultivators, dairy farmers, and other farming communities in J&K. “Our farmers cannot compete with heavily subsidized foreign produce. Without adequate protective measures, this deal may push thousands of farming families towards economic distress,” he said.

Highlighting the unique agricultural profile of J&K, Priye emphasized that the region’s horticulture sector—particularly apple production—forms the backbone of the rural economy. Any policy decision that weakens price stability or market access for local produce, he said, would have far-reaching consequences not only for farmers but also for traders, transporters, and allied sectors.

The protest witnessed participation from farmers, youth, and members of the Kissan Department, who raised slogans demanding protection of domestic agriculture and greater consultation with stakeholders before finalizing international trade agreements.

Bharat Priye urged the Central Government to ensure that any trade pact includes strong safeguards such as minimum support price protection, import duty controls, and special provisions for sensitive regions like J&K. He also called for strengthening crop insurance, improving irrigation infrastructure, and ensuring timely compensation to border farmers affected by cross-border shelling.

He reiterated that the farming community in border areas like Najwal has consistently faced dual challenges — security concerns and economic uncertainty — and deserves focused policy protection rather than additional market pressures.The protest concluded with a memorandum submitted to the administration, demanding a comprehensive impact assessment of the Indo-US Trade Deal on Jammu & Kashmir’s agriculture and allied sectors before its implementation.