Srinagar, Aug 04 (KNO): Plum growers in Kashmir are witnessing one of their most profitable seasons in recent years, with many farmers now fetching more than Rs 1,000 per crate for quality produce, a sharp improvement attributed to robust demand, expanded cold storage facilities and better post-harvest management.
Growers and traders told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that unlike previous years, when the highly perishable nature of plums forced farmers into distress sales, improved storage infrastructure has enabled them to preserve fruit quality for longer periods and dispatch consignments to distant markets at the right time, resulting in significantly higher returns.
Officials from the Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department said the development of cold storage facilities has transformed the marketing of soft fruits such as plums by reducing post-harvest losses and extending their shelf life.
"Earlier, plum growers had very little time to market their produce because of its short shelf life. This often resulted in panic selling and heavy losses. With better cold storage facilities now available, growers can store their produce safely, maintain its quality and sell when market conditions are favourable," an official said.
Fruit traders said the demand for Kashmiri plums has remained exceptionally strong this season in several wholesale markets across the country, pushing prices to encouraging levels.
Zahid Ahmad, a fruit trader at the Fruit Mandi in Shopian, said growers are receiving good returns for premium-quality plums. "This season has been very encouraging for plum growers. Demand has remained consistently high, and farmers who had kept their produce in cold storage units are now getting better returns as storage facilities have also ensured that produce reaches markets in excellent condition, helping growers earn much better returns," he said.
Fruit exporter Basharat Ahmad said cold storage has opened new opportunities for Kashmiri plum growers by allowing them to access distant markets that were previously difficult to serve.
"Earlier, plums often deteriorated before reaching far-off destinations, forcing traders to dispose of the fruit quickly at lower prices. Now we can maintain freshness during transportation to cities like Kolkata and other major markets. This has increased consumer confidence and improved the value of Kashmiri plums," he said.
Hilal Ahmad, a manager, at cold storage unit in SIDCO Lassipora said that rates of plum crate which used to hover around Rs 500 to Rs 700 is around Rs 1000 now and growers are elated.
He said that cold storage units are proving very beneficial to the growers as it helps them to sell their produce at their will.
Growers said the improved returns have raised hopes that soft fruit cultivation could become a more profitable alternative for many orchardists looking to diversify beyond apples.
"Farmers are finally seeing the benefits of investing in quality fruit production. Better prices mean they can recover cultivation costs comfortably and invest further in orchard management. This is encouraging more growers to take up plum cultivation on a larger scale," a grower from Shopian said.
Experts believe that sustained investment in cold storage, grading, packaging and efficient transportation will further strengthen Kashmir's position as a leading producer of premium soft fruits.
They said while apples continue to dominate the Valley's horticulture sector, improved infrastructure is enabling fruits such as plums and cherries to emerge as important contributors to growers' incomes.
Growers have urged the government to further expand cold storage capacity, strengthen the cold chain network and improve transport logistics so that more farmers can benefit from better market access and reduced post-harvest losses.
They exuded hope that if the present trend continues, Kashmir's plum industry will witness substantial growth in the coming years, generating higher incomes for orchardists while expanding the Valley's presence in premium fruit markets across the country—(KNO)