A bumper apple production in Kashmir this season has failed to cheer up growers as their produce is being sold at nearly 30 per cent lower rates than last year. Faced with huge losses, farmers have now sought government intervention. The Kashmiri apple hogged the headlines in September, after an uproar over frequent disruption in its transportation from the orchards in the valley to markets outside the UT.

Kashmir produces about 75 per cent of the total apple crop in India and is considered the backbone of its economy, contributing about 8.2 per cent to J&K’s GDP. “...there is no doubt the growers are suffering huge losses. It is very difficult for them to overcome the losses without government support,” Chamber of Azadpur Fruit and Vegetable Traders chief Metha Ram Kriplani said.