The Sopore fruit Mandi in North Kashmir has dispatched over 900,000 metric tons of apples this season, with a value exceeding 6,000 crore. At the peak of the apple harvest, the mandi is loading about 300 trucks daily to distribute fresh produce throughout India and beyond. "We have around 2.4 million metric tons of produce here at the Sopore Fruit Mandi," Kaka Ji, the mandi President.
"This year alone, we've dispatched over 900,000 metric tons so far, generating 6000 crore revenue," Kaka Ji stated, highlighting that nearly 95% of the apples meet high standards despite a dry season and reduced apple yield. He also noted a recovery in apple prices, offering financial relief to local farmers.
The mandi significantly impacts the regional economy, with Sopore, in the Baramulla district, being a major hub for apple production and sales, contributing to Jammu and Kashmir's GDP. Kaka Ji commended the improvements to national highways for better transport of perishable goods but called for more government action to enhance infrastructure and address the issue of counterfeit pesticides.
Apples from the mandi are exported to markets including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. "The Sopore Mandi, established in 1989, plays a vital role in our economy, with about 70% of our population engaged in horticulture, involving around 700,000 families," Kaka Ji remarked.
Source: Kashmir Convener