Srinagar: Strawberries, the first fruit to ripen in the Kashmir Valley after winter, have arrived in local markets, but the mood among farmers is far from festive.
A sudden slump in demand and prices, attributed to the recent attack in Pahalgam, has left strawberry growers grappling with losses during what should have been a profitable season.
Farmers from Gusso village in Hazratbal, on the outskirts of Srinagar, who are currently harvesting the crop, say the Pahalgam incident has cast a shadow over the strawberry market.
“Strawberries are eagerly awaited by both locals and tourists, and the market was initially promising,” said Manzoor Ahmed, a farmer from Gusso. “But the Pahalgam incident changed everything overnight. Prices crashed, and the demand dried up.”
Manzoor, who has been cultivating strawberries for the past eight years, said that the fruit which earlier fetched between Rs 80 to Rs 100 per box is now being sold at Rs 40. Similarly, larger boxes that once fetched Rs 600 are now selling for as low as Rs 250.
“This fruit has a very short shelf life, only three to four days once harvested, and we cannot afford to let it go to waste,” he added, expressing frustration over the lack of storage and transport facilities.
Strawberry farming is a relatively new practice in Kashmir, with many farmers in Srinagar and parts of Ganderbal shifting from traditional vegetable cultivation to this crop. Gussu has emerged as one of the key strawberry-producing pockets in the valley.
Officials said that Kashmir produces over 300 metric tonnes of strawberries annually.
Last year, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had arranged refrigerated vehicles to transport the strawberries to markets in Jammu, which helped prevent losses. However, farmers allege that no such arrangements have been made this year.
“Farmers are left helpless. Many are now considering abandoning strawberry farming altogether due to the repeated setbacks and shrinking farmland,” Manzoor said, urging the government to step in with timely interventions.
Aijaz Ahmed, another farmer from the area, echoed the concerns and said that if given proper attention, strawberry cultivation could become a thriving industry.
“Jammu and Kashmir’s climate is ideal for strawberries. But without market support, storage solutions, and effective transportation, the potential of this fruit is going to waste,” Aijaz warned.
Technical officer in the horticulture department, Mohammad Amin said this year the strawberry production is good.
“There were some challenges initially, but now things are stabilizing,” Amin said
