After Setbacks, Kashmir Apple Growers See Fresh Hope

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- After a season marked by transportation disruptions and fresh weather-related challenges this year, Kashmir's apple growers have begun the new harvesting season with a measure of optimism, with early varieties fetching encouraging prices in the market.

Harvesting has so far begun mainly in the lower and relatively warmer areas of the Valley. Kulu apples are currently fetching around Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,400 per box, while quality Gala apples have also witnessed encouraging demand.

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The early market response has brought some relief to growers, who are hoping that the trend will hold as harvesting expands to Kashmir's major apple-producing belts.

The optimism, however, comes against the backdrop of a difficult year for the horticulture sector. Last year, disruptions to highway movement left growers facing losses as fruit consignments struggled to reach outside markets in time.

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This year, orchards have also had to contend with repeated hailstorms and other weather disturbances. Several areas of South Kashmir, including parts of Shopian and Kulgam, reported damage to apple orchards during critical stages of crop development.

The weather-related losses have added to the uncertainty for growers even before the harvest began, making the early market rates particularly significant.

President of the Fruit Growers Association Kashmir, Basheer Ahmad Basheer, said the opening of the season was more encouraging compared to last year.

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“Unlike last year, when the closure of the highway badly affected the movement of fruit and growers suffered heavy losses, the market this year has started on an encouraging note. The demand is good, and growers are getting reasonable returns for their produce,” he said.

Basheer said growers were hopeful that the positive market trend would continue as harvesting progresses.

“We are hopeful that the market will remain stable throughout the season. If the demand continues and transportation remains smooth, growers can expect handsome returns this year,” he said.

For growers cultivating early varieties, the initial prices have offered some confidence.

A fruit grower from south Kashmir said Kulu apples were currently fetching around Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,400 per box, while Gala was also attracting good demand.

“The beginning is certainly better than what we witnessed last year. Kulu is getting around Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,400 per box, and there is good demand for Gala as well. We hope the rates remain stable when harvesting picks up in the main apple-producing areas,” he said.

However, growers remain cautious about reading too much into the early prices. With harvesting still limited to selected areas, the broader market picture is expected to emerge only when arrivals increase and produce from the major apple belts begins reaching mandis in larger volumes.

The growers have urged the authorities to ensure uninterrupted transportation, adequate market facilities and timely movement of fruit outside the Valley.

They said sustaining remunerative prices would be crucial, particularly as growers continue to deal with rising costs of cultivation, labour, packaging and transportation.

“Good rates at the beginning of the season are encouraging, but what matters is whether growers continue to receive remunerative prices throughout the harvesting period. Smooth transportation and proper market management will be crucial,” another grower said.

The weather remains another concern for the industry. Repeated hailstorms earlier this year damaged orchards across several parts of Kashmir, while prolonged dry conditions in August have also raised concerns over fruit size and colour in some areas.

For growers, therefore, a good opening market is more than an encouraging price signal. It could provide an opportunity to offset at least some of the losses caused by weather damage and previous market disruptions.

The real test, however, will come in the weeks ahead when harvesting gathers momentum across the Valley and larger quantities of apples enter the market.

For now, growers are hoping that the early demand for Kulu and Gala will translate into stable prices through the season, allowing Kashmir's apple industry to recover some ground after a series of difficult seasons. (inputs from KNO).

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