HD Apple Orchard Hit in Pulwama
FIRDOUS PARRAY
SRINAGAR, July 31: The apple industry across Kashmir Valley is facing significant challenges, exemplified by the recent incident in the Chandgam area of southern Kashmir’s Pulwama district where a high-density (HD) apple orchard suffered severe damages following the application of a pesticide.
Owned by local farmer Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, the orchard, located in Chandgam village in the Litter area of Pulwama, was sprayed with Mitofix pesticide from Willowood Company on July 9. The next morning, Bhat’s son Muntazir discovered extensive damage to the apple trees.
The family immediately confronted the local pesticide dealer, accusing him of selling substandard products. The dealer promised to contact the company and advised the family to spray water on the apple plants to counteract the pesticide’s effects.
Bhat had invested Rs 14 lakh in 2021 to plant 1,240 apple trees across 8 kanals of land. “Last year, we sold apples worth Rs 15 lakh, and this year’s production had doubled. Unfortunately, the apples and trees were damaged after using the pesticide,” Muntazir lamented.
Talking to Kashmir Despatch, Muntazir explained that the pesticide dealer had recommended Mitofix, claiming it was effective against red mite. However, the product was not endorsed by SKUAST-K for this purpose.
Mohammad Shafi Dar, a Subject Matter Specialist with the Horticulture Department in Pulwama, stated that the Enforcement Inspector of the Agriculture Department, along with SKUAST-K scientists, had collected samples of the pesticide for chemical analysis under the provisions of the Insecticide Act 1968.
“The samples, including leaf, fruit, and weed specimens from the orchard, have been sent for testing. We expect the report within a week to determine the actual cause of the damage,” Dar said. He added that while the same acaricide had been used by many orchardists, only Bhat’s orchard was affected, necessitating a thorough investigation.
Muntazir has requested assistance from the relevant authorities to restore the orchard, as it is their sole source of income.
Kashmir is renowned not only for its beauty but also for its apple production. The region produces around two million metric tonnes of apples annually, supporting approximately 3.5 million people directly or indirectly. In 2019-20, the valley produced 20.26 lakh metric tonnes of apples.
Cold storage units in Jammu and Kashmir can preserve apples for up to 8-9 months. During the peak season, growers store apples to fetch higher prices during the off-season.
Izhan Javed, spokesperson for the J&K Fruit and Vegetables Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA), stated that there are at least 88-90 cold storage units across Kashmir with a capacity of 30 lakh metric tonnes (MT). The SIDCO Lassipora in Pulwama district alone houses 40 CA units with a capacity of 3 lakh MT. Javed added that 30 new cold storage units with a capacity of 3 lakh MT are in the pipeline in SIDCO Lassipora.
“This year, growers lost at least 30-40% of stored apples due to lower prices compared to the rates during the season,” Javed told Kashmir Despatch.
Mohammad Ashraf Wani, a local fruit grower and former president of the Fruit Mandi, revealed that approximately 2 crore crates of apples were stored in cold storage units, with growers losing at least Rs 500 per crate this year.
In 2023, 30-40 thousand MT of apples were imported into the Indian market from other countries. “Imports from Iran via the Wagah border, under the guise of Afghan apples, and duty-free imports of Washington premium apples are affecting domestic production,” Wani stated. He further noted that Indian apples cannot compete with Washington premium apples or those from countries like Turkey and New Zealand, impacting the market for Kashmiri apples.
