Srinagar, Sep 19: Fruit growers in Kashmir have been advised against premature harvesting of apples, with growers’ representatives cautioning that picking fruit before attaining proper colour and maturity could adversely affect both quality and market demand.
The advisory comes amid the ongoing apple harvesting season, when some growers have started picking varieties earlier than the usual harvesting schedule after seeing reports and advertisements highlighting high market prices at certain mandis.
Growers’ representatives said that the early arrival of under-coloured and lower-grade apples in large quantities has affected the market, with rates declining by around Rs 300 per box in some markets after the initial rise in demand.
Bashir Ahmad Basheer, President of the Fruit Growers Association Kashmir, said that growers need to avoid premature harvesting and concentrate on quality rather than trying to take advantage of temporary price trends.
“Some growers started harvesting their apples before the scheduled time after seeing advertisements about high rates in some mandis. This resulted in a large quantity of low-colour and comparatively low-grade apples reaching the markets, which eventually affected demand and prices,” he said.
Basheer said the issue was not limited to harvesting, adding that improper grading and packing were also affecting the reputation and marketability of Kashmir’s apples.
He said some growers were using cheaper or unsuitable packing material, due to which apples sometimes develop scratches and other marks during transportation and handling.
“Growers must also pay proper attention to grading. At times, second- or third-grade apples are packed in the second or third layers while better-quality apples are placed only on the upper layer. Such practices are easily detected once the boxes are opened and can create a negative impression about the entire consignment,” he said.
The association president said that while growers naturally try to benefit from better prices, harvesting fruit before it reaches the desired maturity and colour can prove counterproductive if large quantities of inferior-quality produce enter the market simultaneously.
Basheer urged growers to follow the recommended harvesting period for different varieties and ensure proper sorting, grading and packing before sending their produce to mandis.
“Growers should not be influenced merely by advertisements showing unusually high rates. They should first assess the maturity and colour of the fruit and then harvest it. Proper grading and good-quality packing material are equally important,” he said.
He added that the market could remain favourable during the season if growers maintain quality and avoid flooding mandis with immature or poorly graded fruit.
“There is comparatively low productivity this year in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Himachal Pradesh. Therefore, demand can remain good, provided growers take care of harvesting at the right time, maintain proper grading, use suitable packing material and avoid sending their produce in bulk without proper quality control,” Basheer said.
He said growers should also understand that the price received by one consignment or at one mandi at a particular point of time cannot necessarily be treated as an indication of the overall season’s market.
Growers have accordingly been advised to adopt a quality-oriented approach so that Kashmir’s apple consignments retain their demand and do not face price corrections because of premature harvesting, poor grading or improper packing—(KNO)
