Infra gaps affecting profits despite normal crop
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 31: Despite a normal cherry crop and slightly improved market rates this season, growers in Ganderbal today said that the absence of cold storage facilities and inadequate technical support continue to limit returns from one of the district’s key horticultural crops.
The harvesting season, which began earlier this month, is currently underway in several cherry-growing villages, including Lar, and Gutlibagh. Repor, Wailwuder
Growers are harvesting multiple cherry varieties that ripen at different stages and are supplied to markets within and outside J&K.
Cherry cultivation is a major source of livelihood for hundreds of families in Ganderbal, one of Kashmir’s leading cherry-producing districts.
However, growers stress that fruit’s highly perishable nature and the lack of post-harvest infrastructure leave them vulnerable to market fluctuations.
“We have no cold storage facility. Cherries cannot be kept for long, so growers are forced to sell immediately after harvesting, even when prices are unfavourable,” said Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, an orchardist from Gutlibagh.
Rather said cherry cultivation requires significant investment in orchard maintenance, spraying, labour and transportation, while returns remain uncertain.
“Harvesting has been underway for more than 10 days. We earn something from the sale of cherries, but overall profits are modest. If storage facilities were available, growers could wait for better prices and access larger markets,” he said.
Another orchardist, Riyaz Ahmad, said the lack of storage infrastructure remains a major challenge for growers across the district.
“Whenever we suffer losses due to weather or other factors, there is little support available. Without cold storage facilities, we have no option but to sell quickly because cherries have a very short shelf life,” he said.
The concerns come even as growers report a satisfactory crop this year.
Muhammad Akbar, an orchardist from Wailwuder, said production has remained normal despite weather-related concerns during the spring season.
“Harvesting is underway and production this year is normal. In previous years, yields were better but prices were low. This season, production is average while rates have improved slightly,” he said.
Akbar said growers cultivate nearly five cherry varieties, including Makhmali and Misri, which mature and are harvested in phases over several weeks.
“Different varieties ripen at different times, allowing harvesting to continue for an extended period,” he said.
According to growers, early-season cherries generally fetch better prices, although rates fluctuate depending on arrivals from other producing areas and market demand.
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