Kashmir’s first season fruit, cherry, ripened much earlier than expected due to higher temperatures this year. In fact, some varieties like “awwal number” have been harvested at most places.
The Kashmir valley annually produces 20,000 metric tons of cherry on 3000 hectare of land, according to the officials.
The places which produce cherry in huge quantities are Tangmarg, Baramulla, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Shopian etc.
For the last two years, the cherry farmers endured heavy losses due to a lack of transportation because of the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown. While there is prospective bumper production this season, the government must ensure it is not a “fruitless season.”
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 pandemic brought about pain and anguish in all spheres of life. Poor farmers were no exception. The impact was immediately felt by cherry growers as supply-chain distortion hurt them badly.
As per figures cited by the growers, the cherry produce in Kashmir last year was about 12,000 metric tonnes. The growers as per them faced massive losses due to limited demand in the previous season as Mumbai and other suitable markets for the delicate fruit remained out of bounds due to the pandemic. The growers are looking for the government’s support and there is need to work out a mechanism in advance for ensuring speedy transportation of the horticultural produce especially cherry by way of various interventions.
Cherry canning units need to be made functional and raw cherry need to be exported to different mandies of the country.
The farmers have high hope that there are no transportation related delays this year. The government should make arrangements in advance to ensure the fruit reaches markets and the end consumer. The cherry growers do not have the luxury of cold storages and their yield could 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 successive governments despite assurances have failed to put in place cold storage which would have helped the growers to ward off any crisis like ones faced for the last two years. It is better that alternative plans are set up and concretized well in time.
