Cherry picking gains pace in Ganderbal amid price concerns

Ganderbal, May 29: Cherry picking has begun in parts of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, one of the Valley’s largest cherry-producing regions. Cherries hold a crucial position in Kashmir’s horticulture sector, particularly after the strawberry harvest.

This year, growers in Ganderbal are expecting a bumper crop. The harvesting season is expected to peak over the next two weeks and continue until mid-June.

While the Awwal and Double varieties are harvested from the second week of May, Mishri—one of the most sought-after varieties—is expected to be ready for harvesting in the first week of June.

Nearly a dozen villages, including Lar, Waliwar, Chuntwaliwar, Gutlibagh, Zazna and adjoining areas of Ganderbal district, are major producers of different cherry varieties.

However, even as harvesting gradually picks up pace, low market prices have left growers disappointed.

“As of now, cherry prices in the market are low,” said Mohammad Akbar, a farmer from Gutlibagh. “We were expecting better rates.”

Over the past few years, horticulture growers suffered losses due to prolonged COVID-19 disruptions and adverse weather conditions, including recent hailstorms. This year, however, farmers are hopeful of better returns owing to the expected bumper harvest.

“Even as Kashmir has witnessed a bumper cherry crop this year, growers are a distressed lot due to low demand and falling prices,” said grower Jahanzeb Alam.

He said there are four major cherry varieties cultivated in Kashmir—Awwal Number, Double, Mishri and Makhmali—with the latter two exported to other states.

Cherries are highly perishable and have a very short shelf life, making timely marketing and transportation crucial for growers.

Ganderbal district is among the highest cherry-producing districts in Kashmir and is known for producing the season’s first domestic fruit to enter the market.

With nearly 1,200 hectares under cherry cultivation, Ganderbal is considered the hub of cherry production in Kashmir, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the Valley’s total output. An estimated 5,000 growers are associated with cherry cultivation in the district.

Major cherry-growing areas in Ganderbal include Chuntwaliwar, Gulabpora, Lar, Gutlibagh, Wakura, Dab, Batwina and parts of Kangan, where orchards had recently been in full bloom.