In Kashmir, apple growers, especially those with Grade A produce, are in high spirits these days. Understandably, their harvest is now securing the most favorable market rates in a decade. Often referred to as the ‘fruit bowl’ of North India, Kashmir is witnessing premium prices for its apples across all fruit markets, thanks to a limited supply unable to match the growing demand.

As per apple growers, there has been a significant decline in apple production this year in both Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, with the crop rate being 50 percent higher than the previous year.

“For the first time since 2007-08, apples are being sold at the best prices in Kashmir. The significant shortage of supply has caused prices to skyrocket,” said Mohammad Ashraf Wani, an apple cultivator in Kellar village of Shopian district, some 52 kilometres south of Kashmir. “A 20-30 percent drop in crop production this year in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) as well as Himachal Pradesh, two major apple producing regions, has led to apple prices soaring in the market,” he said.

The apple production in Himachal Pradesh suffered a setback due to the havoc wreaked by this year’s monsoon in the state. The floods, a consequence of heavy rains, resulted in a staggering loss of INR 240 crore for Himachal’s apple industry. In contrast to the usual average of 8 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of apple production, this year saw a significant reduction, with only 3 lakh MT being produced.

Likewise, fluctuations in weather conditions in Kashmir impacted the crop at different stages of development, resulting in a reduction in output.

Wani, a trader and former president of the fruit market in Shopian, mentioned that apples from J&K and Himachal are not only predominantly sold domestically but are also exported to Bangladesh and Nepal.

“Such is the demand of our apples that every day, between September and November, 80-100 apple-laden trucks carrying 800 boxes of apples are transported to Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region.”

According to official statistics, Kashmir annually exports approximately 18 lakh metric tonnes of apples, constituting 75 percent of India’s total apple production.

As stated by 55-year-old Wani, this marks the first instance where a 15 kg box of the Kulu delicious variety is being sold at INR 1,300-1,600, as opposed to INR 700-800 last year. Likewise, the 15 kg plain delicious variety is currently priced at INR 1,000-1,300, a significant increase from INR 400-600 last year.

Not far from Srinagar, in Sopore, hailed as Asia’s second-largest fruit market, the rates of grade A apples have doubled over last year.

“Two weeks before the A grade quality was sold at INR 1,300 to INR 1,400 per 15 kg box. This year, however, the rates started to decrease after apples from Iran entered the Indian market. However, the rates still are on the higher side as the Grade A quality is currently sold at INR 1,000 to INR 1,100 per 15 kg box against INR 500-600 per 15 kg box last year,” said Sopore fruit Mandi president Fayaz Ahmad Malik.

Suhail Ahmad, another apple grower from the Tral area of Pulwama district, mentioned that this year marks the first time growers have achieved record rates for their produce.

According to Manzoor Ahmad Mir, Deputy Director of Central Horticulture Planning and Marketing, the rise in rates for Kashmir apples is attributed not only to low production but also to advancements in the grading and packing of the fruit.

“This is the first time after nearly a decade that the rates of our crop have risen. We are seeing good demand in almost all the markets of the country, mainly in Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Chennai.”

Mir further stated that this year, the improved color of the fruit has contributed to increased demand and prices.

“Whenever there are fewer fruits on the tree, the colour of apples gets better due to proper sunlight exposure. The fruit density on a tree impacts the colour and overall quality of apples,” he explained.

Malik, the president of Sopore Fruit Mandi, added that the gains wouldn’t be significant for growers as a considerable portion of the fruit has been affected by scab. He further noted that the overall production this year was only 60 percent of the levels in previous years, with just 30 percent being A grade, while the rest fell into the C grade category.

“Prolonged erratic weather, coupled with hailstorm and use of substandard pesticides in apple orchards, have reduced production drastically this year,” he said.

Bashir Ahmad Bashir, president of the Kashmir Fruit Growers and Dealers Association, mentioned that while the rates for A grade apples are higher than in previous years, the output is comparatively low.

“Last year 21 lakh MT of apples were produced in J&K compared to 9 MT so far this year. A grower is getting good rates only for the A grade while the B and C grade apples either go to waste or are sold at cheaper rates,” said Bashir.

Over the last 15 years, Kashmir’s apple industry has faced substantial losses attributed to political instability, climate change, conventional farming practices, the impact of Covid-19, and the influx of Iranian and U.S. apples. Farmers lamented significant losses last year, primarily due to the frequent halting of fruit-laden trucks on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

Despite grappling with these challenges, the apple industry in J&K stands as the largest employment generator, involving 3.5 million people and contributing 9.5 percent to the union territory’s GDP.

To address the challenges facing Kashmir’s apple industry and compete with Iranian and American apples, Wani has proposed that growers redirect their focus towards high-density farming.

“The traditional apple trees in our orchards are 50-60 years old due to which our crop is not able to sustain current weather fluctuations. We need to introduce hybrid and climate-resilient varieties. Pesticide spraying should be done on the recommendations of horticulture scientists,” he explained.

It remains uncertain whether his suggestion will be taken into consideration. Currently, those who have harvested Grade A apples are experiencing satisfaction and contentment.