Srinagar, Oct 31 (KNO): Cold storage facilities across Kashmir have been fully booked amid encouraging demand for apples this season, with growers hoping for better returns when the stored produce reaches the market in the coming months.
Growers said demand for Kashmiri apples has remained encouraging, raising expectations of favourable prices when the produce kept in cold storage is released for sale. Storing apples, they said, allows them to avoid selling their entire crop during peak harvesting, when large arrivals put pressure on market rates.
"Demand for apples has remained good this year, which has given growers some hope of better returns. If demand remains strong, it could benefit growers who have invested in storing their produce," Mohammad Yousuf, a grower from south Kashmir, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Abbas Ahmad, a fruit grower from Sirhama Anantnag, said when a large quantity of apples reaches the markets at the same time, growers often have to sell at whatever rates are available. "By storing a portion of the crop, we can wait for the right time and avoid selling everything under pressure," he said.
Cold storage operators said many orchardists had begun arranging storage space months before the harvesting season, leaving little capacity for those who delayed.
Shahid Ahmad, a cold storage operator, said the experience of last season had prompted operators to pay greater attention to quality and grading. "Last year, some consignments contained mixed grades, and the quality of a portion of the produce deteriorated during storage. This resulted in losses for growers as well as operators. We are therefore insisting on properly graded and sorted apples," he said.
Another operator said cold storage can preserve good-quality apples but cannot improve fruit that is already damaged. "Growers need to ensure proper sorting, grading and packing before bringing their produce to the facilities," he said.
Growers said the rush for storage space was also linked to difficulties faced last season, when a large volume of fruit reached the markets within a short period and transportation disruptions added to the uncertainty.
An orchardist from Pulwama said access to storage facilities had become increasingly important as apple cultivation remains a major source of livelihood for thousands of families. "Apple cultivation involves substantial expenditure on fertilisers, pesticides, labour and transportation. After investing so much, growers naturally want a reasonable price. Cold storage gives us an opportunity to hold back some of the crop," he said.
Growers also pointed out that storing apples involves additional expenses, including storage charges, packaging and transportation, making it important for market prices to improve sufficiently to cover these costs. They said while cold storage can reduce the pressure to sell immediately after harvesting, it is not a guaranteed means of securing higher prices.
Growers said the increasing demand for cold storage highlighted the need to strengthen post-harvest infrastructure in Kashmir, calling for expansion of storage facilities, improved transportation connectivity and better market arrangements to help orchardists secure remunerative prices. (KNO)