The Kashmir Fruit Growers and Dealers Union has reported a 30 to 40 percent decrease in apple production in Kashmir this year. This downturn is attributed to erratic weather patterns and a reduction in precipitation, with unseasonal snow and rains during the critical flowering stage adversely affecting the crop. Furthermore, the quality of the fruit has also suffered alongside the drop in quantity.
Compounding the issue, the influx of foreign apples into the Indian market, notably from Iran, Washington, and South Africa, has undercut the price of Kashmiri apples, which represent 75 percent of India's apple output. Local growers and traders are experiencing financial strain as a result, with calls for the imposition of higher import duties on foreign apples to protect the domestic industry.
The Union Territory (UT) government is being urged to take action to mitigate the financial impact on apple growers, amid concerns that the existing Market Intervention Scheme is inadequate. The sector's challenges are significant, given that apple farming is a major employment source in Kashmir, engaging nearly 3.5 million farmers and contributing over 8 percent to the region's GDP. The new government faces the urgent task of addressing these issues to support the apple production sector.
Source: Greater Kashmir