Srinagar, Nov 27: This year, the fruit mandi in Shopian, in south Kashmir, has achieved a record-breaking annual turnover of Rs 628 crores, bringing positive news to the trading community.
Shopian district, a key contributor to apple production in the Kashmir Valley, has set a new record with an increased turnover at the district mandi compared to last year owing to the increase in the rate of apples in the local and national markets.
Bilal Ahmad Paddar, Marketing Inspector, Fruit Mandi Shopian said the annual turnover in the fruit mandi has increased to Rs 628 crore. “Last year the annual turnover was Rs 550 crore and it has now increased to Rs 628 crore till November 27,” he said. Till date, some 8,200 trucks have been exported to outside the valley.
He said that the apple production was good last year and this year there has been a 10-20 percent decrease in apple production due to the rains and other weather disturbances.
“This year the market rates are comparatively satisfying for the farmers and farmers have got good returns for the apple produce as earlier they were worried due to heavy rains,” he said.
The Marketing Inspector said that the infrastructure in the Shopian Mandi has been upgraded over the years. “Until last year there were some 10 auction platforms which have been added to 12 this year,” he said.
Bilal said unlike last year, this year Srinagar-Jammu highway remained favourable as there were no blockades encouraging hassle-free movement of fruit-laden trucks.
He said from the Shopian mandi the apple is taken to almost all the national markets Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Tamil Nadu and other southern states in the country.
The official said under the ambit of the Department of Horticulture Planning & Marketing J&K, they give trainings
On the other side, Bilal said the Government of India and UT Government is focussing on integrating farmers to eNAM and they have been giving training to the farmers in this regard.
The Marketing Inspector said there are 8,000 farmers that are registered with mandi and some 450 traders do their trade in the mandi. He said all the 8,000 farmers have been registered on eNAM and of which some 300 farmers do the trade online. Bilal also said there are nearly 40,000 metric tonnes of apples in eight cold storages in the district.
Earlier this year, the Department of Horticulture Planning & Marketing J&K, also held meetings with DC Anantnag and DC Ramban and Horticulture Department and made joint teams so that the movement of trucks is supervised on the highway.
“This year we did not face any kind of issue as far as transportation is concerned. The weather conditions have also remained favourable for the past two months,” the Deputy Director, Central Department of Horticulture Planning & Marketing J&K, Manzoor Ahmad Mir said.
