Communist Party of India Urges Immediate Relief for Farmers Hit by Unfavorable Weather

Shimla, October 1: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Himachal Pradesh has expressed deep concern over the severe damage to crops due to heavy rainfall, adversely affecting almost all types of crops, especially apples. The party claims that the continuous heavy rainfall has led to substantial economic losses for farmers and horticulturists in the region.

The apple crop, in particular, has been severely impacted by a combination of factors, including minimal snowfall during the winter and consistent heavy rainfall during the summer. While the apple yield was already low due to the lack of snowfall, the continuous rain further deteriorated the quality of apples. This has resulted in almost a 90% loss in apple orchards, where the produce is of subpar quality.

Farmers have been struggling to get fair prices for their apples even in the local markets due to the reduced quality. The situation has added to the economic distress of apple growers, who depend heavily on this crop for their livelihoods.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is urging the state government to provide immediate financial relief to farmers and horticulturists affected by this crisis. Additionally, they are calling for the clearance of pending payments for the apple growers under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for the years 2022 and the current year, amounting to approximately 110 crores INR.

For several years, apple farming has faced mounting challenges. Despite being a significant contributor to the state’s economy, with a contribution of over 6,000 crores INR directly and providing livelihoods to millions of families, the policies of the government have created ongoing crises in the apple farming sector. Over the last decade, there has been a continuous decline in apple production and productivity.

Due to the decreasing subsidies provided by the government in the agriculture and horticulture sectors, the cost of production has risen, and appropriate prices are not being realized in the markets. This, coupled with the reduction in the budget for the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) by the central government, has further added to the economic challenges faced by apple growers.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is calling on the government to provide immediate financial assistance to the affected farmers and increase subsidies on fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, and other agricultural necessities. They also demand that the central government restore the budget cuts to the MIS and allocate sufficient funds to meet the demands of apple growers. If the government fails to act promptly, the party warns of organized protests by apple growers in the region.