A bumper harvest but a profitability nightmare

The Kashmir region which is located in the north of India is an important region in the production of apples. While this year's harvest is larger than last year's, growers are worried and facing many problems.

 

Last year the Kashmir region produced about 2.3 million tons of apples. This year, the harvest is 15 to 20% higher. But growers are worried as prices have fallen 50-60% from last year and cold stores lack the capacity to fully store the harvest.

 

The fall in prices is explained by the massive imports of apples from Iran, according to the apple growers who have asked the central government to stop these imports of Iranian apples so that the local apple market is not affected. As well as building more cold storage space in the area.

 

The Kashmir region has about 3.5 million people working in the apple sector which is essential in the regional economy, its contribution to India's GDP is almost 8%.