Srinagar, Sep 12: Both high-density and traditional local apple varieties in Kashmir fetch good prices in fruit mandis and markets these days in and outside the valley as compared to the previous year rates.
The good prices in markets as per industry experts is attributed to the low produce of apples this year due to rains however the good market prices are bringing happiness to the farmers and apple growers.
Mudasir Ahmad, an apple grower from Pattan Baramulla said there is a good market for the high-density apple varieties and farmers have got a relief as they had not expected such a price this year.
“Today I sold a 15 kg box of apple variety at Rs 1,150. It is a good feeling for the farmers. I think growing new varieties alongside the traditional varieties is the best way for orchardists to make a balance in the market,” Mudasir, who owns a 10 kanal orchard, said.
In March, the valley’s farmers were worried about the early blooming of apple trees, which was an unusual phenomenon that experts attribute to global warming and fluctuating temperatures.
“After the rains of March, April and May, now the farmers are eagerly waiting for the rains which would be good for the quality of apples which are to be harvested in September end,” said Javid, a farmer from Budgam.
Chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union/ President, Parimpora Fruit Mandi, Bashir Ahmad Basheer, said in the wholesale one box of galamas top variety is sold at Rs 1200 to 1400 and red gala is sold at Rs 1300 a box. He also said one box of local American variety apples is sold at Rs 300-600 a box.
“The rates are better than the previous year. In Kashmir this year, the torrential rains have affected the fruit crop and it caused scab at many places. This year there is a decrease in production. Those farmers who have good quality fruit will get good prices,” he said.
On the other side, Bashir said the delicious apple variety has also faced size issues this year. “The harvest of the American apple variety has also started in some parts of north Kashmir’s Sopore town and its price is also good,” he said.
American is the only apple variety of Kashmir that is imported to the international market like Bangladesh where the crop fetches good prices. “We hope that rates will go further up in the coming months so that losses from previous years can be compensated” he added.
Bashir said this year many States in India like Himachal Pradesh would have less production. He expected that this year there would be a decrease in production in the valley than the previous year.
President, Sopore Fruit Mandi Fayaz Ahmad Malik said this year there is decline in apple crop in Kashmir as well as in Shimla. He said this year there has been a decrease in the number of trucks that used to be exported to outside the valley from Sopore fruit mandi this season.
“Last year, the crop production was 90 percent and this year it is 50 to 60 percent. There is a gap of 30 percent owing to the rains in Shimla,” he said.
Interestingly, he said last year, the Sopore Mandi would export 150 trucks of fruits in a day during this season which have now declined to 80 or 90 trucks a day this season.
“The production of apples is low but the rates are high in the markets. We are hopeful that this year the market remains good and farmers get the better process for produce,” he said.
Annually Kashmir produces over 20 lakh mt of apple and in some years touches 25 lakh mt. The 2017 Economic Survey in J&K had said that half of Kashmir’s population is directly or indirectly dependent on the apple industry and over 3.5 lakh hectares are under apple cultivation.
The good prices in markets as per industry experts is attributed to the low produce of apples this year due to rains however the good market prices are bringing happiness to the farmers and apple growers.
Mudasir Ahmad, an apple grower from Pattan Baramulla said there is a good market for the high-density apple varieties and farmers have got a relief as they had not expected such a price this year.
“Today I sold a 15 kg box of apple variety at Rs 1,150. It is a good feeling for the farmers. I think growing new varieties alongside the traditional varieties is the best way for orchardists to make a balance in the market,” Mudasir, who owns a 10 kanal orchard, said.
In March, the valley’s farmers were worried about the early blooming of apple trees, which was an unusual phenomenon that experts attribute to global warming and fluctuating temperatures.
“After the rains of March, April and May, now the farmers are eagerly waiting for the rains which would be good for the quality of apples which are to be harvested in September end,” said Javid, a farmer from Budgam.
Chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union/ President, Parimpora Fruit Mandi, Bashir Ahmad Basheer, said in the wholesale one box of galamas top variety is sold at Rs 1200 to 1400 and red gala is sold at Rs 1300 a box. He also said one box of local American variety apples is sold at Rs 300-600 a box.
“The rates are better than the previous year. In Kashmir this year, the torrential rains have affected the fruit crop and it caused scab at many places. This year there is a decrease in production. Those farmers who have good quality fruit will get good prices,” he said.
On the other side, Bashir said the delicious apple variety has also faced size issues this year. “The harvest of the American apple variety has also started in some parts of north Kashmir’s Sopore town and its price is also good,” he said.
American is the only apple variety of Kashmir that is imported to the international market like Bangladesh where the crop fetches good prices. “We hope that rates will go further up in the coming months so that losses from previous years can be compensated” he added.
Bashir said this year many States in India like Himachal Pradesh would have less production. He expected that this year there would be a decrease in production in the valley than the previous year.
President, Sopore Fruit Mandi Fayaz Ahmad Malik said this year there is decline in apple crop in Kashmir as well as in Shimla. He said this year there has been a decrease in the number of trucks that used to be exported to outside the valley from Sopore fruit mandi this season.
“Last year, the crop production was 90 percent and this year it is 50 to 60 percent. There is a gap of 30 percent owing to the rains in Shimla,” he said.
Interestingly, he said last year, the Sopore Mandi would export 150 trucks of fruits in a day during this season which have now declined to 80 or 90 trucks a day this season.
“The production of apples is low but the rates are high in the markets. We are hopeful that this year the market remains good and farmers get the better process for produce,” he said.
Annually Kashmir produces over 20 lakh mt of apple and in some years touches 25 lakh mt. The 2017 Economic Survey in J&K had said that half of Kashmir’s population is directly or indirectly dependent on the apple industry and over 3.5 lakh hectares are under apple cultivation.
