Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Feb 14: Controlled Atmosphere (CA) cold storage units across Jammu and Kashmir continue to emerge as a major support system for apple growers, helping them secure better prices and avoid distress sales during peak harvest months.
According to industry estimates, nearly 40 per cent of the apples stored in CA units have already reached markets, while around 60 per cent of the produce is still safely preserved, waiting for improved demand conditions and price stability in the coming weeks.
Growers said that the ability to store apples for longer periods without quality loss has transformed their earnings pattern.
“Earlier, we were forced to sell everything immediately after harvest when prices were low,” said Abdul Rashid, an orchardist from south Kashmir. “This year, the apples we kept in cold storage fetched much better rates as there was no demand in the main season. It has covered our input costs and given us real profit.”
Another grower, Ghulam Nabi from Sopore, said the market response so far has been encouraging. “The apples released from CA units got handsome returns. With festivals and marriage season approaching, we expect demand to rise further and prices to improve,” he said.
Experts said that CA storage helps regulate market supply, preventing price crashes caused by oversupply immediately after harvest. By releasing fruit gradually, growers can target high-demand periods.
“Cold storage has given us control over when to sell,” said growers. “Instead of middlemen dictating prices, farmers can now wait for the right time.”
“They last in the main season; there was no demand for the apples, which is why growers preferred to keep their produce in cold storage units, and these units were fully packed, and now growers are fetching good returns,” they added.
The improved income from stored apples is also having a positive ripple effect in orchard belts, helping families reinvest in better sprays, packaging, and modern farming practices.
Growers believe that if more CA units are established in remote fruit-producing areas, small farmers will benefit even further.
Cold storage is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity for apple farming,” said one orchard owner. “It protects our hard work and ensures fair value for our produce.”
He added, “It helps us to send produce to markets as per the demand of the market, not in bulk quantity that will lower the demand, but in such a way that growers get handsome returns.”
With a majority of apples still in storage and market demand expected to strengthen, the coming weeks are likely to bring even better returns for growers, reinforcing cold storage’s role as a game changer for Kashmir’s fruit economy.
