Bumper cherry crop in Kashmir tempered by storage, infrastructure challenges

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Ziraat Times
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Ziraat Times Team Report

Srinagar, May 31: Cherry growers in Kashmir are reporting a healthy harvest this season, with a good crop and slightly improved market rates bringing optimism to farming families. However, growers say the absence of cold storage facilities and inadequate post-harvest infrastructure continue to limit profits from one of the district’s most important horticultural crops.

The harvesting season, which began earlier this month, is currently underway across several cherry-growing areas, including Harwan-Nishat-Shalimar belt in Srinagar, Pattan, Magam, Budgam, Lar, Gutlibagh, Repor and Wailwuder. Growers are harvesting multiple varieties of cherries that ripen at different stages and are supplied to markets within and outside Jammu & Kashmir.

Cherry cultivation is a major source of livelihood for hundreds of families in Ganderbal, one of Kashmir’s leading cherry-producing districts. Growers say production has remained satisfactory this year despite weather-related concerns during the spring season.

An orchardist from Wailwuder, who requested anonymity, said the crop has performed well and harvesting is progressing smoothly.

“Production this year is normal and harvesting is underway. In previous years, yields were higher but prices were lower. This season, production is average while market rates have improved slightly,” he said.

The grower added that farmers cultivate several cherry varieties, including Makhmali and Misri, which mature in phases and allow harvesting to continue over a number of weeks.

Despite the encouraging crop, growers say the lack of storage infrastructure remains a major hurdle.

A cherry grower from Gutlibagh said the absence of cold storage facilities forces farmers to sell their produce immediately after harvesting, regardless of market conditions.

“Cherries cannot be stored for long, so growers are compelled to sell quickly, even when prices are not favourable,” he said.

He noted that cherry cultivation requires substantial expenditure on orchard maintenance, spraying, labour and transportation, while returns often remain uncertain.

“We do earn from cherry sales, but overall profits are modest. If storage facilities were available, growers could wait for better prices and access larger markets,” he added.

Another orchardist from the district said the lack of cold storage leaves farmers vulnerable to both weather-related losses and market fluctuations.

“Whenever losses occur due to weather or other factors, there is little support available. Without cold storage facilities, we have no option but to sell immediately because cherries have a very short shelf life,” he said.

According to growers, early-season cherries generally fetch better prices, although rates fluctuate depending on arrivals from other producing regions and market demand.

Farmers said strengthening post-harvest infrastructure, particularly through the establishment of cold storage facilities and improved technical support, would significantly improve returns from cherry cultivation and help reduce losses linked to the fruit’s perishable nature.

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