Srinagar, March 17: The rates of Kashmir apple have doubled in several parts of the country bringing relief for the growers. In the previous winter the rates of apple were down by 50 percent despite bumper production of apple in the valley’s orchards.

Bashir Ahmad Bashir, chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union said it was good news that the rates of apples have almost doubled in the country.

He said last after the harvest season from September to November, the rate for an apple box weighing 16 kilograms would sell at only Rs 500. However, he said over the past three weeks the prices have gone up to Rs 1000-1200 in many parts of the country.

“Many large-scale growers store apple in cold storage in valley and send the produce to several places across the country these days. The market is good. It is a relief to the growers,” he said.

Pertinently, this winter, Kashmir apple industry has witnessed heavy losses as rates had gone down by more than 50 percent.

Fayaz Ahmad Malik, president Fruit Association Fruit Mandi Sopore said it was encouraging that the rates have gone up in the country although it happened very late.

“It is a good thing but the normal apple growers have already sold their produce. In the last season the growers suffered heavy losses due to dip in rates,” he said.

As per official estimates, additional 2 lakh metric tonnes of fruit were produced in Kashmir last year. Annually 20 to 21 lakh metric tonnes of apples are produced in Kashmir. Last year favorable weather conditions, especially timely rainfall resulted in bumper crop.

Horticulture experts said the occurrences of diseases in apple orchards were less last year than the previous years and the horticulture department had expected bumper produce.

In September 2022, Kashmir apple industry made headlines after an uproar over frequent disruption and delay in transportation on the Srinagar-Jammu highway which was also a reason that had added anger among the growers.

Kashmir produces about 75 percent of the total apple crop in the country and is considered the backbone of its economy, contributing about 8.2 percent to Jammu and Kashmir's GDP.

Abdul Quds Beigh, Horticulture Development Officer, Horticulture Department Kashmir said the department is planning to improve cold storage facilities from 1.8 lakh mt to 5 lakh mt in the coming three to five years in order to store apple at huge quantity.

“Currently, there are 42 cold storage facilities that have the capacity of 1.8 lakh mt. Kashmir produce apple in bulk. In case of decrease in rates farmers need to store apple for months. The addition to 5 lakh mt cold storage facilities will ease farmers,” he said.

The 1.8 lakh mt cold storage facilities are spread in Pulwama, Baramulla, Srinagar, Shopian and Anantnag. Most of the cold storage facilities are located in Pulwama and Shopian districts.