Sopore, April 14 -- The president of Asia's second-largest fruit mandi in north Kashmir's Sopore on Tuesday demanded government compensation for horticultural losses due to floods, alleging that apple growers have not received any relief since the 2014 deluge.

Fayaz Ahmad Malik (Kakaji) told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the fruit industry has been hit by successive natural and economic shocks without any government support. "Since 2014, 2016, 2018, and after COVID, the fruit industry has not received any compensation. Seventy to seventy-five percent of people are associated with this sector. The government must look at this," he said.

Malik also called for strict action against the sale of unauthorised pesticides and fert...