Jammu, Jan 30 (KNO): Kulgam, CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Tuesday demanded a one-time remission of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans for farmers and orchardists who have suffered heavy losses this season.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Tarigami said fruit crops were damaged due to repeated highway blockades, floods and incessant rains, which severely affected the overall produce. He said many farmers and orchardists are hardly able to recover even the cost of pesticides and fertilisers, pushing them into financial distress.
He said banks are putting pressure on farmers and orchardists to repay KCC loans at a time when their income has been badly hit, making repayment extremely difficult this season.
The CPI(M) leader urged the government to intervene and direct banks to show leniency towards farmers and orchardists facing hardship. He said the authorities must take into account the ground realities being faced by the farming community.
Tarigami further demanded that the government should at the earliest grant a one-time remission of KCC loans and announce a compensation package for affected farmers and orchardists to help them recover from the losses.
He said timely relief is essential to protect the livelihoods of families dependent on agriculture and horticulture in the region—(KNO)