Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Oct 7: The ongoing warm and dry spell in Kashmir is severely impacting fruit quality. This has further lowered demand and added to the challenges faced by local growers.
Fruit growers said the current weather conditions have stunted growth and led to quality deterioration, with sunburns causing considerable damage to the fruit.
Mohammad Yousuf, a fruit grower from Shopian, said that autumn temperatures this year are at least eight degrees higher than usual, which has adversely affected the quality of unharvested fruit. “Since June, there has been a lack of adequate rainfall, which has contributed to the decline in fruit quality,” he said, adding that prolonged dry conditions have resulted in increased fruit fall.
Abbas Ahmad, another grower from Anantnag, expressed concern about the sunburns affecting their produce, which according to him has reduced market demand as consumers favour visually appealing fruit. “Orchards without irrigation facilities are particularly affected, with most lacking adequate watering options,” he said.
“Without sufficient rain, our fruit trees are stressed. This has impacted the quality and flavour of the fruits,” another grower lamented.
Growers said this year’s fruit is softer due to the prolonged dry spell, which affects its shelf life, making long-term storage unfeasible.
In addition to the dry weather, growers said that hailstorms and strong winds have further damaged the fruit this season, which has compounded the impact on their yields. They said the combination of these factors is leading to a decrease in overall demand for the affected produce.
While quality fruits still command good prices, growers said the overall quantity of quality produce is down this year. They have called on the government to implement crop insurance schemes, saying this sector faces various challenges annually.
