In Kashmir, fruit growers are witnessing a surge in demand for their apples across Indian markets, marking a shift from the earlier sluggish demand during the peak harvesting season. This increase has enabled growers to secure better prices, with Mohammad Yaqoob, a grower from Shopian, noting a price rise from about $7.40-$9.87 (Rs 600-800) to $12.34-$14.81 (Rs 1,000-1,200) per box. The higher demand is compensating for the season's earlier anxieties caused by heatwaves and an extended dry spell, which had impacted fruit quality and yield.
Javid Ahmad, another grower, highlighted the strategic timing of sales based on market demand as crucial for securing good returns. Despite a 30% drop in production due to erratic weather conditions, including untimely heavy rains and hailstorms, the current high demand is expected to yield handsome returns for the remaining apple produce, including that in cold storage, according to Bashir Ahmad Bashir, president of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Association and the New Kashmir Fruit Association.
With an annual production typically exceeding 2 million metric tons, reaching up to 2.5 million metric tons, the apple industry is a significant part of Kashmir's economy, supporting half of the region's population either directly or indirectly, with over 350,000 hectares under apple cultivation.
Source: Brighter Kashmir