This year’s prolonged cold weather and rains have devastated the cherry crop when the harvest period was at its peak in the Kashmir Valley. Eight cherry varieties grown in Kashmir include makhmali, siya, mishri, jaddi, Italy, dabal, vishkan and stela. Four of these eight varieties, mainly mishri, jaddi, makhmali and dabal, have a good demand in the market.
The annual production of the stone fruit is around 12,000 tons, making Jammu and Kashmir the largest cherry producer in India. The Kashmir Valley contributes to 95 per cent of the total cherry production in India. “Kashmir annually sends around 3,500-4,000 tons of cherries to other states of India. Cherry is being cultivated in the region on around 2,800 hectares, which yields an annual turnover of around Rs 1.3-1.5 billion (€14.3-16.5 mln),” said an official from the horticulture department.
Distressed farmers have stated that the rains followed by hailstorms during the harvest season had led to cracks in the fruit and they could not sell their produce. During the past six years, fruit growers would make a good income in the form of cherries, but this year, the crop has been devastated due to the inclement weather.
Source: downtoearth.org.in