Middlemen’s role: Kashmir’s apple trade needs a fairer system

By Dr. Rizwan Rumi

There are mornings in Kashmir that still carry the scent of dew and hard work. The apple, for decades, has been at the centre of that labour — sustaining both the valley’s economy and its rural life.

Yet behind every harvest lies an uncomfortable reality. The orchardist, who invests months of care and effort, often ends up earning the least from his produce. Between him and the market stands a complex chain of agents and traders that has grown stronger over time — not necessarily more fair.

Traditionally, local agents were seen as facilitators. They helped orchardists negotiate with traders, managed logistics, and ensured that payments and transport went smoothly. In return, they received a modest commission per box. It was a system that worked — until the balance shifted.

Today, these intermediaries often act in ways that undermine the very growers they are meant to represent. They frequently dictate rates under the pretext of “market conditions,” highlighting minor imperfections in size or colour to justify price cuts. These deductions, in many cases, benefit the agents’ own commissions rather than the market or the trader.

For farmers, the result is demoralizing. The same apples that fetch high prices in distant markets are often sold at a fraction of their value at the orchard gate. The grower bears the cost of cultivation, storage, packaging, and risk — yet receives only a small share of the eventual profit.

This imbalance is not only an economic problem; it erodes confidence in the local market structure. The absence of transparent pricing systems, limited access to storage facilities, and overreliance on intermediaries have left orchardists with few choices but to sell quickly, often at whatever price is offered.

The solution lies not in eliminating traders or agents, but in reforming the way the trade operates. Cooperative marketing structures can give farmers collective bargaining power. Transparent rate systems — whether through government-regulated markets or verified digital platforms — can help ensure fairer prices. The introduction of efficient cold storage chains and transport cooperatives can reduce distress sales during peak harvest season.

Technology also offers new possibilities. Online trading platforms can connect growers directly with national and international buyers, allowing them to compare prices and choose better deals. When growers have real-time market information, manipulation becomes harder.

However, no reform can succeed without accountability and ethics in trade. The role of the agent must return to what it was meant to be — a bridge between grower and buyer, not a gatekeeper of opportunity. The sustainability of Kashmir’s apple economy depends on restoring trust and fairness at this level.

The Kashmiri orchard remains one of the valley’s strongest economic assets. Protecting it requires more than good harvests — it requires systems that ensure the people who cultivate the fruit share equitably in its value. The grower deserves not charity or sympathy, but a fair market and a transparent process.

And beyond all these solutions lies a moral revival — a return to the ethic of honesty that once defined Kashmir’s rural life.

And each time an agent undervalues a box of apples, he doesn’t just reduce the rate — he diminishes the spirit of a people who have for centuries nurtured life from the mountain’s silence.

Kashmir’s apples deserve a fair market. And more than that, Kashmir’s farmers deserve a fair voice — one that cannot be sold per box.