Kashmir’s Apple Inc faces setbacks amidst slump in demand

Pulwama, July 03: The apple industry in Kashmir is grappling with one of its most challenging seasons in recent history, with stakeholders calling for urgent reforms.
Despite a bumper crop in 2023, growers from various regions have struggled to make a substantial profit due to a significant decline in demand.
Aijaz Ahmad, an apple grower from Zanapora in Shopian, expressed his frustration over the current situation.
“We stored our quality apples in controlled atmosphere (CA) stores at IGC Lassipora in September 2023, hoping to get a good price in the off-season when demand typically rises.However, some of the fruit still remains in storage,” he said.
Ahmad noted that apple growers usually sell their produce from controlled atmosphere storage within six months, but the slow demand this year has compelled many to keep their apples in storage for up to ten months.
The spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir Fruits and Vegetables Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) revealed that around 12 percent of stored apples still remain unsold.
He described this season as the worst for the apple industry in the past three decades.
He highlighted that the Indian apple farming community was forced to sell their produce at prices 40-50 percent lower than usual due to the influx of under-priced Iranian apples.
The spokesperson pointed out that the current minimum declaration price of rupees 50 per kilogram is being exploited, facilitating the dumping of Iranian produce in the Indian market.
Shakeel Ahmad Khan, an apple grower and representative of the Fruit and Vegetable Growers/Dealers Association Shopian, emphasised the severe financial losses faced by growers this season.
“The rates were down by around 50 percent compared to last year,” he said, adding that growers also encounter malpractices from CA store owners.
Khan explained that growers typically deposit around 17 kilograms of apples in CA chambers but receive only 13 kilograms back per box. “CA owners deduct 3 kilograms per box for wastage, which is unjust to the growers.
Even, they charge rent for the 3 kilograms that rot due to their negligence,” he added.
Khan also criticized the preferential treatment given by CA store owners to their own produce or that of favoured customers, especially during peak demand periods.
He called for government intervention to appoint officers to check these malpractices. Furthermore, Khan pointed out that the low import duty on Iranian apples is adversely affecting the demand for local produce from Kashmir and Himachal.
Stakeholders have proposed several measures to revitalise the local apple industry. These include addressing malpractices at various levels, increasing the minimum price for Iranian apples from rupees 50 to rupees100 per kilogram, balancing cold storage capacity with production, streamlining supply chains, and enhancing the grading and packaging quality of local produce.