Ganderbal, May: Cherry harvesting has begun across several orchard-rich areas of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, including Gutlibagh, Chanduna Wari, Surfraw and nearby villages, bringing fresh activity to orchards as growers and labourers remain busy plucking, sorting and packing the fruit for markets.
Cherry cultivation continues to be one of the main sources of livelihood for hundreds of families associated with the horticulture sector in the district. However, this year’s harvest season has been partially affected by continuous rains and recent hailstorms, which damaged cherries and tree branches in several areas.
Growers said that they were expecting a bumper crop this season after taking all necessary measures, including timely spraying of pesticides and use of fertilisers, but the untimely weather caused significant losses.
“We suffered losses after the hailstorm damaged a portion of the cherries, but we are hopeful that the remaining crop will mature properly and fetch good prices in the market,” said Bashir Ahmad, an orchard owner from Gutlibagh.
Another grower, Ghulam Ahmad from Waliwar, said weather conditions during the coming weeks would play a crucial role in determining the quality of the harvest. “The cherries are now ripening quickly, and if the weather remains stable, we expect a much better outcome compared to the initial fears after the storm,” he said.
Mohammad Shafi, a farmer from Surfraw, said harvesting activities are currently underway in full swing across orchards. “Labourers are working from morning till evening. This season may not be perfect because of the hailstorm, but the quality of the remaining fruit looks promising,” he added.
Farmers said only a limited quantity of cherries is reaching Valley markets due to the crop damage, while many orchard owners are struggling to meet labour expenses because of reduced production.
The affected growers have appealed to the horticulture department and district administration to assess the losses and provide timely compensation and better market facilities for orchardists affected by weather-related damage—(KNO)
