Srinagar, Oct 28 (HS): Apple growers and traders in the Kashmir Valley are upbeat this year despite a fall in production. The main reasons are the uninterrupted flow of traffic on the national highway and a sharp rise in demand for Kashmiri apples in markets across the country.

In previous years, the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which links the Valley with the rest of the country, would shut down at the slightest change in weather because of its poor condition. Since the government improved the road, traffic now moves steadily, and growers are both pleased and grateful.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has visited Jammu and Kashmir on several occasions to review projects on the highway. According to him, the Srinagar-Jammu journey, which once took nine hours, now takes four.

Imtiyaz Ahmad Tabardar, a trader at the Sopore Fruit Mandi, told Hindusthan Samachar that with the highway in better shape, apple-laden trucks are reaching markets across the country without disruption this year, which is benefiting growers considerably.

“When the highway was in poor condition, our produce took 36 hours to reach Azadpur Mandi. Now it takes only 20 to 22 hours. Even when the weather changes, traffic is not disrupted,” he said.

“This year there is huge demand for Kashmiri apples in markets across the country, and the rates are good too. Unfortunately, there is less produce, because the use of substandard pesticides and hailstorms have cut production by around 40 per cent,” he said.

The trader said the strength of demand can be gauged from the fact that the fruit does not stay in the markets and is snapped up as soon as it arrives. The launch of the goods train, he added, has also been a big help to growers, and in bad weather it is a lifeline for them.

Nissar Ahmad, a member of the Kashmir Fruit Growers and Dealers Association, also told Hindusthan Samachar that the improved highway has been a major boost for growers, who faced no trouble transporting their produce this year. Demand is good and so are the rates, he said. Between 175 and 200 vehicles leave the Sopore Fruit Mandi every day for markets across the country, he added.

However, he complained that substandard pesticides and hailstorms led to a significant drop in output this year, causing losses to growers. He said the government is not taking firm steps to check the sale of substandard pesticides.

Both demanded that a crop insurance scheme be introduced for apple growers as well. “Introducing a crop insurance scheme is a long-standing demand of ours that is not being met,” Nisar Ahmad said.

It may be noted that apples have been grown in Kashmir for centuries. Kalhana’s 12th-century chronicle, the Rajatarangini, mentions apples being grown in the Valley. Kashmir accounts for nearly three-fourths of the country’s total apple production. The industry is the biggest source of employment in the Valley and contributes around 10 per cent of the Union Territory’s GSDP.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat