Fruit Growers Demand Major Budget Relief After 2025 Deluge Losses Shahid Chowdary, Chairman Trade Settlement Committee, Fruit Mandi J&K, held an emergency press conference at Fruit Mandi Srinagar and highlighted massive losses suffered by fruit growers during the devastating deluge of August–September 2025. He said prolonged closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway left thousands of fruit-laden trucks stranded, while harvested produce remained piled up in orchards and mandis. Supply chains collapsed and market demand was severely hit, causing losses estimated at around Rs 2,000 crore. He urged the government to announce a comprehensive compensation package in the Budget 2026–27. Chowdary further demanded implementation of a Crop Insurance Scheme for the horticulture sector and revival of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). He stated that nearly 40 percent of apple produce every season falls under Grade-C and fallen fruit category, pushing growers into losses. He recalled that under the earlier MIS, Grade-C apples were procured at fixed government rates, which provided relief to growers, but the scheme has remained shelved for years. Raising other key demands, he sought establishment of a separate Horticulture Estate, setting up of 150–200 CA and cold storage units, subsidy on tray-based cardboard packaging, and a ban on silicate-based boxes. He also urged that Tree Spray Oil be treated as an agricultural product with proper budgetary provision, stating that these measures are essential to safeguard livelihoods and ensure long-term stability of the horticulture economy in Jammu and Kashmir.