Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Despite a massive cherry and strawberry crop yield expected in May, fruit growers in Kashmir are worried over the extended lockdown as it may lead to disruptions in the supply chain.
After suffering huge losses due to the four-month-long clampdown since August 5 last year, Kashmir’s fruit industry has now pinned hopes on this year’s cherry and strawberry crop amid Covid-19 pandemic that is tightening its grip in the Valley.
The farmers are hopeful that the government would find out some mechanism so that cherry and strawberry crop reaches the markets on right time. Last year, tons of apple crop was rotten as it couldn’t reach the outside market on time despite the Market Intervention Scheme launched by the J&K government. Market Intervention Scheme has been introduced to ensure remunerative prices for the perishable Agriculture and Horticulture Crops.
An orchardist from South Kashmir’s Anantnag district said that despite last year’s MIS scheme launched by the government, they suffered losses worth crores as apples didn’t reach the respective markets on time. “There were attacks on truckers also in South Kashmir districts which caused a huge dent to the apple export mechanism. And the J&K government’s much talked about MIS proved a damp squib,” he said. “Under MIS, some farmers received a meager Rs 2000 as compensation, which tantamounts to adding salt to an injury,” he added.
Kashmir Fruit growers Association President Bashir Ahmed Bashir said that this season, a massive cherry and strawberry production is expected in the month of May. “Both are quality fruit. In cherry, we have two special varieties red and yellow Cherry, both are quality varieties. We are also expecting bumper strawberry crop in the month of May amid Ramadan,” he said.
Ahmed said that the ongoing lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has once again cast a shadow on the prospects of cherry and strawberry crops. “We have serious apprehensions of facing another season of losses as there seems to be no light at the end of tunnel,” he said.
“How can we transport and export cherry and strawberry crops when there is a strict countrywide lockdown. Though there are reports that this lockdown would end on May 3, who knows if pandemic takes an ugly turn. What will happen to our crop,” Ahmed who owns scores of ‘kanals’ (a piece of land) of cherry and strawberry orchards in South Kashmir said.
He said that the Horticulture department should wake up and formulate some strategy so that they are saved from facing losses in the coming months. “Even though local consumption of cherry and strawberry is also good but it’s not to that extent that entire Valley would consume our all produce. Kashmiri strawberry and cherry produce is recognised across India and at times it goes abroad as well,” Ahmed said.
He said that the J&K government must work out some mechanism and ensure that “our production reaches markets on time.” “Let there be door to door delivery in rest of India for Cherry and Strawberry the way they are delivering other fruit and vegetable. Our concern is we should get full support from Horticulture this time. Otherwise, Kashmir’s fruit industry will sink this year,” he said.
