Fruit production in Jammu and Kashmir was recorded at 24.93 lakh metric tonnes in 2015-16. Of which the valley alone produced 22.12 lakh metric tonnes.
Persistent curfews and shutdowns have sounded a death knell to the fledgling fruit industry of Kashmir. Fruit growers have suffered a whopping loss of Rs800 to 900 crore as they are unable to export their produce to outside mandies in the unrest.
"We have incurred loss of Rs 800 to 900 crore so far. We are unable to send our produce to outside markets on time because government has imposed night curfew which is hampering the shipping of fruits. Plus the markets are shut and growers are unable to ship fruits from the orchards," Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, told dna.
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 which 65 per cent comprise of the apple orchards.
Fruit production in Jammu and Kashmir was recorded at 24.93 lakh metric tonnes in 2015-16. Of which 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.
"Fruit harvesting has just started in the valley. Initial varieties of fruit like Hazratbali apple, Razaqwari apple and Babgosha (pear) have taken the hit. Growers could not harvest some of the varieties on time which resulted in natural fall causing damage to the produce. Some varieties could not be shipped on time which also caused losses", said Basheer.
Official figures reveal that in 2014-15 growers suffered financial losses worth Rs 1425 crore due to the floods. Fruit growers had submitted the memorandum to the centre putting the loss at Rs 2890 crore in 2014-15.
"Our loss is very meager given the huge loss of precious lives. The loss of precious lives cannot be filled. Other losses are secondary which can be endured", said Basheer.
Horticulture department however said 34331 Metric Tonnes (MT) of fruit have been dispatched to mandis outside the state since April 1 2016. A horticulture department spokesman said 8876 MTs of fruit have been dispatched in 953 truckloads outside the State in the current month.
Urging people to facilitate smooth movement of fruit trucks, the spokesman said that Horticulture is one of the core sectors of the state economy which contributes around Rs 5000 crore annually.
"Any delay in transportation of fruit to the mandis would lead to massive losses not only for orchardists but will hit the state economy as well," he said.
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