Following a remarkable bumper crop in the previous year, the apple production in Kashmir has suffered a severe setback due to unpredictable weather conditions and the outbreak of scab disease this year, leading to a reported decline of over 40 percent. Apple grower Zahoor Ahmed, hailing from Sopore in north Kashmir, highlighted the adverse impact of the region’s unstable weather on this year’s apple production. He noted that fluctuations in weather conditions during various stages of apple crop development have resulted in both a reduction in quantity and a decline in the quality of the harvest.
Bashir Ahmed Basheer, the president of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union, said to NIE that this year’s weather in the Valley remained notably unstable. Unpredictable weather patterns, from dry conditions between February and March to subsequent bouts of rain and extended dry spells, created a challenging environment for apple cultivation. Furthermore, hailstorms, especially prevalent in north Kashmir, caused substantial damage to apple orchards. Consequently, the region has experienced a significant drop of over 40 percent in apple production this year, and the quality of the apples has also suffered. There is a higher proportion of C-grade apples in north Kashmir this year compared to previous years.
Kashmir, which typically yields around 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, witnessed a surge in production to 22 lakh metric tonnes last year due to the bumper crop. This region is responsible for producing 75 percent of the country’s apples. However, the current year’s challenges, including erratic weather and hailstorms, have significantly impacted Kashmir’s apple production and the overall quality of the harvest.
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