The cherry season in Kashmir continues to be highly successful and profitable for local fruit producers.
Orchardists in the Valley are currently benefiting from a favorable market despite a poor start to the season.
The introduction of the premium imported cherry types, especially from Holland and Italy, has been revolutionary to the industry, giving orchards a large array of options such as Regina, Lapins, and Sweetheart.
Also, due to their staggered production cycles compared to an all at once production cycle, imported cherries have enabled orchards to extend their traditional cherry harvest window to adjust to the staggered production cycle.
By increasing the harvest timeframe, orchards are less likely to experience market overages, decrease the possibility of forced sales, and add jobs to the region with regards to assisting in the harvesting, grading, and packing of produce.
As such, premium cherries will continue to have a strong share in the domestic cherry marketplace and continued economic growth benefits to growers.
The continued profitability of premium stock varieties, along with other traditional crops grown in this area, allows the local growers to earn substantial returns on their entire cherry harvest.
Kashmir’s local economic stability ensures a consistent and high-quality income source for farmers located primarily within Kashmir’s major hubs.
Kashmiri fruit farmers have displayed their ability to adapt to these recent changes by being both adaptable and reliable.
The Valley has established itself as India’s leading producer of cherries, producing both internationally released tree species and continuing to use locally grown species.
A future of continuous sustainability and profitability for agriculture in the Valley will continue to evolve.
