Sweet apples have turned sour for the growers as prices of the fruit have crashed by 50 per cent in different markets of the country. Fruit growers say fear of war and unrest in Jammu and Kashmir have severely affected the trade of apples. Since the supply of apples started from Kashmir in the last week of September, the price has come down and traders fear that the trade will suffer the most in case a war breaks out.
"We will not be able to sell even a single apple if war breaks out," said Tausik Ahmad Abasi of Abasi Traders from Baramula in Jammu and Kashmir.
Last week marked 100th day of the unrest in Kashmir, which has severely affected apple trade. "This is the peak season of apple supply from Kashmir. Traders fear that the fruits will sell at an all-time low price," said Sanjay Pansare, former director of Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Vashi.
The violence in Kashmir started after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8.
"Ever since Wani was killed, trade in the state has been severely affected and buyers are not coming to the state as there is huge problem of entry and exit of trucks," said Abasi adding they have brought down the price of the apple by over 50% to sell maximum quantity to at least make recovery of investment.
Horticulture is the mainstay of Kashmir's economy with 23 lakh people associated with this sector. More than 3.37 lakh hectares are under the fruit cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir. Of which 2.18 lakh hectares of land is under the fruit cultivation in the valley. Of this 65 per cent comprise the apple orchards.
Fruit production in Jammu and Kashmir was recorded at 24.93 lakh metric tonnes in 2015-16. Of this the valley alone produced 22.12 lakh metric tonnes.
Kashmir valley is one of the largest producers of apple in the country with production touching 19.21 lakh metric tonnes in 2015-16. The apple production in 2014-15 was recorded at 11.70 lakh metric tonnes given the devastating floods of September 2014.
Due to price fall, in the last one fortnight, the APMC Vashi has been receiving around 40 trucks laden with apple from Kashmir. "We are receiving around 80 trucks apple of which 40 trucks are alone form Kashmir. The quantity is enough for Mumbai and its adjoining areas daily requirement," said Pansare.
Pansare said that premium quality apple from Kashmir is available at around Rs 550 to Rs 600 per carton while last year, in the same period, the price of the same quality apple was around Rs 1200 to Rs 1400 per carton.
According to Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, fruit growers have suffered Rs 2,000 crore loss so far this year. "The losses are only going to mount," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Apples")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}