Over 12.50 lakh metric tonnes of apples exported outside valley this year

Srinagar, Dec 28: A remarkable quantity exceeding 12.50 lakh metric tonnes of apples has been successfully exported outside the valley utilising a fleet of 92,442 trucks, according to officials.
As per the figures maintained by Area Marketing Officer Kathua, Department of Horticulture Planning & Marketing Jammu and Kashmir until 20 December 1,201,746 metric tonnes of apples have been transported from the valley.
Deputy Director Central, Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing Jammu and Kashmir, Manzoor Ahmad Mir said they are observing that the production for this year is comparatively less as compared to last year.
Last year, officials said the valley produced 18.30 lakh MT of apples. This year’s decline is attributed to multiple factors with environmental conditions playing a significant role.
“There are approximately 2.5 lakh metric tonne apples in the cold storage facilities and the transportation continues from the valley,” he said. Last year Kashmir produced more than 18 metric tonnes of apple.
Mir said they have been informing people about the grading and packaging techniques. “The need of the hour is that farmers have to forget the traditional method of marketing and learn new and innovative ways. In this regard, we have been creating awareness among the public about the new marketing techniques,” he said.
The Deputy Director mentioned that the Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing in Jammu and Kashmir has been promoting the adoption of mechanical grading, emphasising its potential to yield higher returns in the market.
As part of the marketing intervention, he said they have encouraged people to use cardboard boxes to carry apples than wooden boxes to give them a better look.
Manzoor said that to push the marketing further, this year they organised three major buyer-seller meets in Calcutta, Hyderabad and Jammu. “We took some progressive farmers to Calcutta. There we invited some 300 buyers and they held interaction with the Kashmir farmers. We helped to create linkages between the buyer and the farmer. A similar event was held at Hyderabad and Jammu,” he said.
Notably, last year there were some problems on the Srinagar-Jammu highway which caused inconveniences to the farmers and growers as apple-laden trucks would halt for days.
“This year we didn’t face any kind of issue as far as transportation is concerned. The weather conditions have also remained favourable so far,” the Deputy Director said.