“Plum Growers Pin Their Hopes on Mass Storage Amidst Challenging Weather in Shopian”

Aaqib Naik

Shopian, 20 July:  Plum growers in the district are looking towards mass storage as a potential solution to secure better market rates and preserve their harvest amidst the unpredictability of the weather. Last year’s success in attaining late market rates has encouraged them to opt for mass storage this season, and the benefits are already becoming evident, both for the farmers and the local economy.

With the capacity to store larger quantities of plums and extend their freshness for longer periods, the growers can now cater to markets with higher demand, leading to improved returns on their produce.

One of the growers from Shopian District expressed their perspective on the situation, stating, “The previous year’s market rates were a blessing for plum growers, motivating us to invest in mass storage this year. Unfortunately, the unexpected and incessant monsoon rains have posed challenges to the fruit industry market.”

Harvesting has been significantly disrupted, and plucking has become a daunting task due to waterlogging ans year’s market rates were a blessing for plum growers, motivating us to invest in mass storage this year. Unfortd damp conditions. While cherry and other fruit crops have suffered losses due to the relentless downpours, the quality of plums has remained relatively intact to some extent. However, early ripening caused by adverse weather conditions has led to some crop spoilage, which is concerning.

“Former President of Fruit Mandi Shopian, Mohammad Ashraf, highlighted a drastic reduction in this year’s flow of plum fruit. The primary reason for the decreased supply is that many growers opted for cold storage for their produce. Currently, the Mandi is receiving only 4 to 5 trucks of plum fruit, a significant decrease compared to the previous year.

He further added that the prevailing market rate for plums is Rs 300 per box, which typically weighs 6 Kg and varies in quality. Prices range from Rs 150 to Rs 300 depending on the condition and grade of the plums.

One of the plum growers from the Shopian area, Junaid Ahmad, said that adverse weather conditions in the region have caused considerable losses for most harvested crops. The ongoing bad weather has also taken a toll on plums, as the fruits are particularly sensitive to the impact of rains. The excessive moisture has caused plums to ripen quickly, ultimately resulting in spoilage and a reduction in overall quality.

The Lassipora industrial area’s cold stores are witnessing an unprecedented influx of plums. According to a conversation with one of the cold store owners in the industrial area, their single establishment boasts an impressive storage capacity of 200,000 crates. As of now, they have already received a staggering 165,000 crates of plums, totaling approximately 3,004 metric tons.

Further data reveals that the collective storage of all cold stores in the area stands at 600,000 crates of plums to date, resulting in a cumulative weight of 10,000 metric tons. Charging a nominal fee of Rs 70 per crate for a comprehensive 40-day period, this all-inclusive fee covers essential services such as labor, loading, unloading, and other associated charges.

According to Bashir Ahmad, the president of Srinagar fruit Mandi, the transportation of plums has reduced to only 30-40 trucks per day, compared to the previous year’s robust figure of almost 100 trucks a day. The primary reason behind this decline is the extensive use of cold stores, where almost 70-80% of the fruit is preserved.

Adding to the hurdles, he further said that the closure of the main road from time to time during rainfall this year has significantly impacted the transportation of crops. With the roads frequently closed due to landslides and other weather-related issues, the timely delivery of produce to markets has been severely hampered. “However, amidst these difficulties, the Government is quickly resolving road conditions and blockages. In this context, we have Mughal road as a potential alternative for transportation as well.”

Despite the current challenges, there remains hope that improved weather conditions, along with effective road management and alternative transportation solutions, will pave the way for a more promising future for the plum market and other affected crops in the valley.”