SKUAST VC proposes green cess for tourists and research cess for orchardists at Apple Conclave of CII in Kashmir
In a bid to boost revenue in Jammu and Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Ganai has proposed a green cess targeting tourists with the aim to fund horticulture research through a suggested research cess levied on orchardists. Leading experts gathered to explore ways to capitalise on Kashmiri apples, emphasising advancements in branding and cold-chain logistics.
Vice Chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganai of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has proposed two new cesses to support sustainable development and research in the horticulture sector during the Apple Conclave in Srinagar. The first cess would target tourists, with the aim of generating over Rs 1,000 crore annually.
The second cess would be levied on orchardists, potentially yielding around Rs 100 crore. Ganai believes these funds could be used to support sustainable development projects and research and development in the apple sector. At the conference, orchardists, agri-entrepreneurs, businessmen, academics, and politicians debated the challenges and opportunities in the horticulture industry, with a focus on apples.
Kashmir's climate and geographical conditions are well-suited for apple production, but the sector faces challenges such as inadequate cold-chain logistics, lack of branding and marketing for Kashmiri apples, and the need for increased production volumes and diversification of varieties.
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