In Jammu and Kashmir, the apple sector is encountering a critical situation due to diminished demand and the entry of international apples into the Indian marketplace. Around 20 percent of the apple output is currently unsold in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores, causing financial difficulties for both farmers and traders. The CA storage system, initially seen as a remedy to prevent market saturation during peak harvest, has not yielded the expected outcomes under the prevailing market dynamics.
Bashir Ahmad Basheer, Chairman of the All Kashmir Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union, has described the dire circumstances, noting a 70 percent decrease in apple prices outside of Jammu and Kashmir. This decline has led to substantial losses for growers, exacerbated by the competition from imported apples from Iran, Washington, and South Africa. The union is advocating for import duties on foreign apples to protect the local industry, with hopes pinned on the upcoming budget announcements.
The financial impact on the region's apple growers is profound, with Muhammad Ashraf, a leading apple grower and trader, detailing the challenging economics at play. Growers face storage costs that significantly reduce their earnings from apple sales. Fayaz Ahmad, another grower, expressed the local opposition to apple imports, which have adversely affected the domestic market.
The situation poses a threat to a sector that is crucial to the economy of Jammu and Kashmir, with stakeholders calling for measures to safeguard against foreign competition.
Source: greaterkashmir.com