Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Oct 26: Cold storage units have come in handy for Kashmiri apple growers who witnessed a very low demand for the fruit despite bumper crop this season.
As per the growers, most of the cold storage units in the valley are already full while many now plan to start such units.
Growers from various areas of south Kashmir told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that due to the very low demand for apples in different markets, they plan to keep the fruit in cold storage units so as to fetch good rates after March next year.
They said this year’s production was more as compared to the last few years. “Even the quality was better but unfortunately the market is very low and most growers are now keeping their produce in cold storage units,” said Muhammad Yousuf, a fruit grower from Shopian.
Mehraj Ahmad, manager at one of the cold storage units at SIDCO Lassipora, said that 95 per cent of their store is already full and the rest will be filled in the next week.
Aabid Hussain, a senior employee at another store, said, “Our unit has a capacity of 2 lakh apple boxes among which 1.9 lakh have already reached here.”
He said the cold storage units have “revolutionised” the horticulture sector as it gives a choice to the grower to sell his produce “as per his will”.
“Cold storage units provide employment to hundreds of people. Besides, labourers also get jobs as now the work of packing apples remains round the year,” Hussain added.
There are around 40 cold storage units in Kashmir and most of them are in SIDCO Lassipora.
Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo last week inaugurated a 550 metric ton (MT) capacity Cold Storage facility at Agri Complex Lal Mandi in Srinagar.
On the occasion, Dulloo said that Jammu & Kashmir is in need of more cold storage facilities for which the government is taking several steps.
The horticulture sector is considered the backbone of Kashmir’s economy as around 60 percent of the population directly or indirectly depends on it. On average, Kashmir produces around 25-30 lakh metric tonnes of apples every year—(KNO)
