The falling price of Kashmiri apples in outside markets has made growers and traders worried as they fear huge losses if the current trend continues.
The traders say that during this stage of the season, the demand and rates of apples used to be high, “but this year the market is down by around 30 per cent.”
The traders say that the Low demand for apples has caused losses to them while demanding a government intervention scheme to overcome losses.
An official said that labour charges, transportation charges, packaging cost is high this year but the fruit is not yielding profit because of low market demand causing losses to farmers. Besides, import of cheap Iranian apples has affected the markets.
“The market intervention schemes should be implemented again and the government should purchase apples from growers so that growers can get some relief,” a grower was quoted as saying by news agency KNO.
Kashmir produces about 75 per cent of the total apple crop in the country and is considered the backbone of its economy, contributing about 8.2 per cent to Jammu and Kashmir’s GDP.
President Fruit Growers Association Ganderbal Manzoor Ahmad said that they were very happy seeing the bumper crop but the markets are down with little demand for the fruit.
