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Journalism of Courage
The strawberries and cherries that have reached the markets are not as red and juicy this year as they usually are. The unending spurts of rain that had hit the valley since March brought grief to growers of these two fruits, the first cash crops of the season, with the produce having fallen drastically.
This comes after strawberry production had been growing over the last decade. The fruit hits the markets at the onset of summer in May-June. This year, much of it is rotten and its redness faded, leading to a fall in prices.
“We are not getting even half of what we used to,” says Farooq Ahmad, who grows strawberries on one kanal in Srinagar.
With a lifespan of only one month, strawberry is sold at Rs 300-350 in the peak season from mid-May through June. This year’s low yield has not affected not only the local market but also the national one, mainly Delhi and other northern states.
Currently, 86 hectares in Kashmir is under strawberry cultivation, which yields about 1,290 tonnes every year. The largest belt is in Srinagar district, at Gusoo, while Ganderbal, Budgam, Bandipora, Kupwara, Pulwama and Kupwara also contribute significantly to the produce, as per data provided by the department of horticulture.
The weather in almost all parts of the valley has hit cherry too. In 2005-2006, 2880 tonnes of cherry were produced and that jumped to 11,629 tonnes in 2012. “This year the yield is around 10-20 per cent of last year’s. Plant pollination was low this year, and bad weather has affected the yield even more,” said Abdul Rashid.
The cherry season lasts for a very short period in Kashmir, mid-May to mid-July, and only if the weather suits the growth of the fruit. The state produces over 11,000 metric tonnes of cherries. About 80 per cent is exported, a major portion to markets in Mumbai, which gets 35,000 boxes every year, besides 15,000 to 20,000 boxes to markets in Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.
Deputy director (horticulture) Akhtar Hussain said the government is planning to provide incentives to growers under the central scheme of HMNEH for stone fruits. Currently, incentives provided by the government include raw material for fencing of orchards and cultivation.
In Kashmir, 3,699 hectares is under cherry. The major belt is on the outskirts of Srinagar city, which includes Harwan, Brein, Dhaara and Zakura. From other districts, Baramulla and Shopian contribute to the produce. Kashmir produces five varieties of cherry – mishri, double cherry, makhmali, black or gol and awal number.
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