With the apple harvest season at its peak, growers and traders are happy with the yield. The bumper crop follows heavy, 60 percent cherry crop damage due to heavy summer rains.
The bumper crop this year is the second in a row. There was a huge rise last year, following years of low production starting in 2010. Cautious orchardists are retaining their apprehension, however, given the prevailing sluggish market rates in the Valley and in markets further out.
Javid Ahmad, a local from the district’s Shirmal area, told the Kashmir Reader that those in his area are happy and busy with apple harvesting. “We were hoping to pay back our debts, but I feel the low markets rates may not let us to do that.” A bank official said that many people cleared their debts last year but a large number are still burdened by loans.
According to Horticulture Department figures, Shopian had 3,13,939 metric tons of horti production last year. There were 296,302 tons of fresh fruit and 17,637 tons of dry fruit from 26,231 hectares of land.
