Strawberry harvest begins in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 16: The strawberry harvest has started in several parts of Kashmir with farmers saying that the torrential rains have affected the crop production this year.
The harvest of the famous Kashmiri strawberry crop in Gaasu Khimber area of Srinagar is in full swing these days with farmers harvesting the fruit and sending it to the markets.
However, as per the farmers the strawberry production in the valley has suffered 30 percent losses this year due to the torrential rains in April and May.
Manzoor Ahmad, a strawberry grower from Hazratbal Srinagar said that the torrential rains have affected 30 percent of the crop produce.
“This year we have good transport facilities and we are able to send the produce to the Parimpora Fruit Mandi without any issue as we would face in the past,” he said.
“We mostly send the fruit directly to the Mandi and some customers also take directly from farmers,” said Manzoor, who produces 3,000 to 4,000 kgs of strawberry every year.
Gaasu Khimber is home to many farmers associated with the strawberry trade. There are apple orchards as well as the next source of their livelihood.
“The production this year is satisfactory despite weather vagaries but it could have been a bumper crop for growers if rains could not have happened during peak season” he said.
Ghulam Mohd, a framer said the strawberry crop has faced losses due to the rains. “In the previous years there was a good crop produce,” he said. The village is known as the strawberry village as some 50 families are associated with strawberry farming.
The farmers requested the government to announce a scheme in their favour so that strawberry as a crop could be developed and production increase in the future.
Subject Matter Specialist, Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir, Mohd Amin Bhat said this is the first fruit of the season and it grows early in May to June and fetches good market. “Although there have been rains this year and rains have affected the harvest,” he said.
“We have launched a scheme Promotion of Fruit Plant Nurseries for strawberries but no farmer turned up for the same. We can give them a 50 percent subsidy provided they come forward,” he said.
The Subject Matter Specialist said in Kashmir there is an area of 80 hectares of land under strawberry cultivation and on average, it produces approximately 350 to 400 metric tonnes of fruits.
“It is a good crop. If the marketing is done immediately it can fetch more returns to the farmers and export potential can increase its price,” he said.
Officials said Camarosa variety of strawberry is the best variety which has good market value adding that the harvest begins in May and farmers should follow the guidelines of harvest.