Plum harvest begins amid strong demand

Pulwama, June 30: Farmers across various areas of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have started harvesting plum, with the fruit now making its way to markets amid encouraging demand.“The demand this season is noticeably higher compared to previous years,” said Parvaiz Ahmad, a marginal plum grower. He added that the harvest began a few days earlier than usual due to the prevailing heatwave.“This year’s crop is abundant, and farmers are fetching good prices,” he said, noting that last year had been particularly challenging for plum growers.Depending on the quality of the fruit, growers are currently receiving between ₹500 and ₹800 per crate from buyers directly at the farm. “Last year, a crate would sell for only ₹300 to ₹380,” Parvaiz recalled. Mohammad Ayoub, another plum grower, said that over the past couple of years, farmers have begun using controlled atmosphere (CA) storage for plum, albeit for shorter durations than apple. “This CA storage helps regulate the supply of fresh plum into the market, preventing a glut that usually follows the week-long harvest period,” he explained. An official at a CA store in the Industrial Growth Centre Lassipora said that fresh plum typically arrives at around 30°C. “We first place it in pre-cooling until it reaches 4°C, and then transfer it to a cold chamber,” he said. The fruit is kept sealed in the chamber for about a month, effectively extending its shelf life.Chief Horticulture Officer (CHO) Pulwama, Javid Ahmad Bhat, said that while plum is a highly perishable stone fruit, cold storage can extend its shelf life by nearly a month.Pulwama district has around 128 hectares under plum cultivation, producing approximately 1,116 metric tonnes annually.