Horticulture plays an important role in Jammu and Kashmir’s economy. A large number of people are dependent directly or indirectly on it. Covid-19 had brought about pain and anguish in all spheres of life. Poor farmers are no exception. The impact has been immediately felt by cherry growers as supply-chain distortion has hurt them badly. In the last few days, the fruit growers have issued SOS twice and their demand has been minimum support price (MSP) for cherry amid high yield this year.
As per figures cited by the growers, the cherry produce in the Kashmir this year is about 12,000 metric tonnes. The growers are facing massive losses due to limited demand this year as Mumbai and other suitable markets for the delicate fruit remain out of bounds due to covid-19. The growers are looking for the government’s support and one of the recent statements from it that it is “working out a mechanism for ensuring speedy transportation of the horticultural produce especially cherry by way of various interventions” is assuring.
As per the government, 215 tonnes of cherry have already been exported to different markets of the country and around 1000 boxes have been airlifted to Mumbai till date. Cherry canning units have started to function and rest of them are opening up, the government added. 2000 tonnes of raw cherry were exported to different mandies of the country last year besides 6000 tonnes were canned, it said. The figures cited by the government and the growers vary a lot but the moot questions remain that fruit should be transported without delay. The government should make arrangements to ensure the fruit reaches markets and the end consumer. The cherry growers do not have the luxury of cold storages and their yield would perish if it doesn’t sell in time. In fact, there should be a special arrangement in place to ensure that the produce that has less shelf life is consumed quickly. The growers need supply chain workable every time. The Valley for one reason or another has some sought of crisis—whether in terms of highway closure or some disturbances within. The successive governments despite assurances have failed to put in place cold storage which would have helped the growers to ward off the present crisis. It is better that alternative plans are set up and concretized well in time. For now, efforts should continue to transport the fragile fruit. Otherwise, it will bring about the catastrophe in the lives of the poor orchardists who depend on returns to keep wheels of life going on. If they ever needed the government, it is now.
Cherry Transport, Cold Storage
