Fetch Rs 200 per kg despite 50% loss due to erratic weather
300 tonnes to be dispatched next week
25 tonnes to reach Jammu daily
Italian variety premium
Growers urge crop insurance
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, May 16: Even as Kashmir’s cherry growers grapple with nearly 50 per cent losses due to prolonged cold temperatures and erratic weather conditions, the Valley’s famed ruby-red fruit continues to command premium prices in markets across the country, bringing cautious optimism to thousands of orchardists dependent on the crop.
With the cherry season gathering momentum, nearly 300 tonnes of premium cherries are expected to be dispatched from Kashmir to various Indian markets beginning next week through rail and road networks.
Chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Association, Bashir Ahmad Basheer, said two railway bogies have already been booked from Srinagar to Jammu to facilitate large-scale transportation of cherries from the Valley.
“From next week, nearly 25 tonnes of cherries will reach Jammu daily through railway services. Besides rail shipments, truckloads of cherries have already started moving to markets in Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Punjab and several other cities,” he said.
Basheer said Kashmiri cherries continue to enjoy strong demand in markets across the country despite the significant decline in production this year. “Unfavourable weather conditions, especially prolonged cold during the flowering stage, badly affected fruit setting and reduced production by almost 50 per cent. However, the quality of the available produce is excellent, and the demand in markets is very encouraging,” he added.
Kashmir annually produces around 12,000 to 14,000 metric tonnes of cherries and remains India’s leading cherry-producing region. The fruit is cultivated extensively in Srinagar, Tangmarg, Shopian, Ganderbal, Baramulla and several other areas of the Valley.
Growers said Kashmir is known for multiple cherry varieties that fetch premium prices due to their taste, texture and appearance.
Among them, the premium Italian variety has emerged as the costliest this season, fetching nearly Rs 200 per kilogram in wholesale markets because of its larger size, sweetness, attractive colour and longer shelf life.
The locally popular Awal Number or Number 1 variety is selling at around Rs 100 per kilogram, while the glossy and soft Makhmali variety is fetching between Rs 90 and Rs 100 per kilogram.
“Buyers from outside Kashmir specifically demand Italian cherries because of their superior quality and shine. Even though the production is less this year, the market rates are comparatively better,” said Abdul Rashid Mir, a cherry grower from Tangmarg.
Farmers across Kashmir said changing weather patterns are increasingly emerging as a major threat to horticulture, especially delicate crops like cherries and strawberries.
“This year, the crop suffered because of unusual cold conditions during the flowering stage. Many orchards witnessed poor fruit setting, while continuous rains in some areas further damaged the fruit,” said Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, a grower from Shopian.
He said the situation has become highly unpredictable over the last few years. “Earlier, farmers could estimate the crop well in advance, but now sudden frost, untimely rains, hailstorms and temperature fluctuations are damaging orchards repeatedly,” Bhat added.
Another orchardist from Ganderbal, Fayaz Ahmad, said cherries remain one of the most important early-season cash crops for farmers before the apple harvesting season begins later in the year.
“Cherry gives quick returns to growers. The fruit is harvested in the morning, packed immediately and dispatched to outside markets within hours. Even with lower production, farmers are hopeful that better prices will compensate for some of the losses,” he said.
Fruit traders at Srinagar’s Parimpora Mandi said faster rail connectivity is helping improve transportation and reduce delays for the highly perishable fruit.
“Cherries are extremely delicate and require quick transportation. Rail movement is proving beneficial because it allows the fruit to reach Jammu and other markets faster and in better condition,” said a fruit dealer at the mandi.
Growers, however, expressed concern over forecasts of fresh rains in the coming days, saying any further wet weather could affect harvesting and damage the remaining crop.
“If the rains continue during the peak harvesting period, the fruit can crack and lose quality. Farmers are already under stress because production has fallen sharply this year,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, another grower from Baramulla.
Horticulture experts and growers have urged the government to strengthen cold storage facilities, introduce climate-resilient farming practices and expand crop insurance schemes to help orchardists cope with mounting weather-related losses.
Despite the difficult season, Kashmiri cherries have once again started making their way to markets across India, with traders and consumers eagerly awaiting the Valley’s prized summer fruit known for its sweetness, colour and unmatched taste.