In Valley,fruit yield at all-time high

The bumper fruit production has come as a good news at a time when the Valley has witnessed a series of violent incidents that has had a direct impact on the growers.

President,Fruit Growers Association,Ghulam Rasool Bhat said that despite shutdowns and road-blockades,the apple growers managed to dispatch fruit-laden trucks to different parts of the country.   In July and August,most of the growers could not send their fruit to other states as the national highway and other highways were disrupted for many days due to the protests. But things have improved now,and hundreds of apple laden trucks are being sent to different cities every day.

He,however,said the bumper production has slightly affected the rates in the markets and increased the production cost.

Bhat,who owns a big fruit orchard in north Kashmir,said: At 10 to 12 lakh tonnes earlier,Kashmir growers were leaders in apple production. With a rise in production,we are now eyeing the international market.