JKPCC Kissan Chief highlights farmers’ woes, warns trade deal threatens local agriculture

• Bharat Priye urges urgent policy support for horticulture and agriculture sectors; raises concerns over Indo‑US trade pact, budget neglect and rural distress

UDHAMPUR: Expressing deep concern over the mounting challenges faced by the farming community in Jammu & Kashmir, Bharat Priye, Chairman of the Kissan Department of the Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) accompanied by District Udhampur President Sumit Mangotra , today addressed a detailed press conference here along with senior office‑bearers of the Kissan Department and later addressed public meeting. The gathering highlighted several pressing issues confronting farmers in the Union Territory, with a special focus on the impact of national policies and global trade agreements on local agriculture and horticulture.

Priye began by drawing attention to the fragile condition of agriculture in J&KUT, where small and marginal farmers form the backbone of rural livelihoods. He underscored that despite the sector’s vital contribution to the region’s economy, successive Union Budgets have failed to provide region‑specific support, leaving farmers vulnerable to market fluctuations, high input costs, and unpredictable weather patterns. According to Priye, the absence of targeted budgetary measures and concessions keeps farmers in a cycle of distress, as rising costs for fertilizer, machinery, irrigation and basic farm tools remain beyond their reach.

A key issue raised at the press briefing was the Indo‑US trade deal, which Priye described as a potential “death knell” for Jammu & Kashmir’s horticulture and agriculture sectors. Echoing concerns voiced by other regional leaders and farmers’ bodies, he warned that the agreement—by facilitating duty‑free or reduced‑tariff imports of products like apples, walnuts and almonds—could undercut local producers who already face high logistical costs and limited market access. Such competition, Priye argued, threatens the economic stability of families dependent on horticulture for their livelihood.

“The fragile agricultural ecosystem of J&K cannot withstand a flood of cheap imports without adequate safeguards,” Priye said, urging the government to introduce protective measures such as tariff safeguards, crop insurance enhancements, stronger MSP guarantees with legal backing, and improved procurement systems. Without these steps, he warned, local growers may be pushed out of business, deepening rural distress and widening economic disparity.

Priye also highlighted ongoing structural challenges that burden J&K’s farming community—such as climate‑related crop losses, insufficient cold‑chain and storage infrastructure, and frequent disruptions in transport routes crucial for getting perishable produce to markets. In addition, he called for greater investment in rural infrastructure, including irrigation facilities, modern farm technology access and extension services that can help farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Emphasizing the socio‑economic implications of agricultural neglect, Priye said that thousands of families in Jammu & Kashmir depend directly or indirectly on horticulture and allied agri‑activities for their survival. He urged both the Union and UT governments to engage with farmer representatives in earnest dialogue and implement policies that support sustainable growth, protect local producers from unfair competition, and ensure stable incomes for cultivators.

Concluding the press conference, Priye reiterated the need for stronger political focus on farmers’ issues, including region‑specific budgetary allocations, protective trade policy measures, and comprehensive rural development planning to ensure that the backbone of Jammu & Kashmir’s economy—its farmers—are not left behind in national and global economic shifts.With agriculture and horticulture accounting for a significant portion of rural employment and economic activity in J&KUT, Priye’s remarks underscore the urgent need for sustained policy intervention to protect and strengthen the farming community’s future.