Of surge in apple exports:Fruit growers bust official claims

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Srinagar, Oct 25: Fruit growers have punctured government’s claim that apple exports have increased by 1.91 lakh tonnes this year, despite tension and uncertainty.

Department of Horticulture, Kashmir, had claimed that 7.34 lakh metric tonnes of apple was exported from the valley to outside the state markets till now. In the corresponding period last year, the department said, 5.43 lakh metric tonnes of apple was exported to outside state Mandis.

“Around 54288 trucks carrying apple boxes have departed from Kashmir so far. The export is likely to increase in coming days,” said Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, Director Horticulture, Kashmir.

However, fruit growers have contested government’s claim saying they have in fact cut-down the apple supply to outside the state markets because of the low returns.

“I don’t think export of apple has increased this year. There is a slump in outside the state Mandies. Plus truckers have sharply hiked the freight.  Business in Sopore Fruit Mandi is almost zero,” said Fayaz Ahmad Malik, President Sopore Fruit Mandi.

Malik said unlike past, no trader from country or Bangladesh has visited Sopore Fruit Mandi this year. “Only few trucks depart from Sopore Mandi which otherwise was busiest market during harvesting season,” he said.

President, Parimpora Fruit Mandi, Bashir Ahmad Basheer said fruit export from south Kashmir has come to a naught after the killing of truckers.

“Currently all the fruit Mandis including Pairmpora, Sopore and others are shut.  As against 300 apple trucks, only 20 to 30 trucks are departing from Parimpora Fruit Mandi now,” said Basheer,

Horticulture is the mainstay of Kashmir’s economy with seven lakh families directly and indirectly associated with the sector. The horticulture contributes seven percent to the Gross State Domestic Product of Jammu and Kashmir.

More than 3.38 lakh hectares of land is under the fruit cultivation in the valley. Of which 1.62 lakh hectares is under the apple cultivation. Last year the fruit production including dry fruits touched 23.30 lakh tonnes last year compared to 22.34 lakh tonnes in 2017.

Jammu and Kashmir is the largest producer of apple in the country with production touching 18.28 lakh metric tonnes last year. The apple production was 17.27 lakh metric tonnes in 2017.

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