A heated exchange took place in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday between Shopian MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay and Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar over the government’s policy on top-up subsidies for Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage facilities.
The debate occurred during the budget discussion, when Kullay raised concerns over the exclusion of Shopian and Pulwama districts from the proposed top-up subsidy scheme. He argued that the move was unfair, as Shopian produces some of the highest-quality apples in the Valley.
“Most of the quality apple production comes from Shopian, yet no top-up subsidy is being provided for CA storages in the district. This is not justified,” Kullay said, adding that the lack of additional storage infrastructure would adversely affect growers and traders.
In response, Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar said there is no restriction on establishing CA storages in Shopian and Pulwama. However, he clarified that the government would prioritise top-up subsidies for other districts, citing saturation of existing storage capacity in these two areas.
“There is no bar on the creation of CA storages in Shopian and Pulwama, but these areas have already reached saturation. Therefore, top-up subsidies will be prioritised for other districts to ensure balanced regional development,” the minister said.
Kullay strongly disagreed, asserting that there is no saturation of CA storage facilities in Shopian. He maintained that the growing volume of high-quality apple production in Shopian and Pulwama required additional storage capacity. “More quality apples are produced in Shopian and Pulwama, and the demand for CA storages is increasing. Saying there is saturation is incorrect,” he said.
The debate continued for some time, with both sides holding firm to their positions before Kullay concluded his remarks.
Earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the finance portfolio, had announced in his budget speech that the government would focus on balanced regional development. He stated that top-up subsidies for CA storage projects would be prioritised in districts other than Pulwama and Shopian, where capacity had reportedly reached saturation.
The government’s stance has raised concerns among apple growers in Shopian and Pulwama, who warn that limited access to additional CA storage could impact their ability to store produce and secure better prices. (Agencies)
