VoV Web Desk

Kashmir cherry

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Hundreds of cherry growers of Kashmir valley were very happy that they were having a bumper crop of cherries this season. But they are waiting fingers crossed as the authorities have failed so far to provide them transportation from Kashmir valley to outside markets as the lockdown has severely hampered the movement of trucks and other means of transport from here.

UT administration has so far succeeded in getting a nod from northern railways that they were ready to transport cherry boxes of Kashmir but from Amritsar railway head.

Cherry growers have yet to get any assurance from authorities for the transport facility for the cherries to be lifted from Kashmir orchards up to Amritsar.

Kashmir exports some 3,500 to 4000 metric tonnes of cherries to other states every year.

Despite the sizeable yield, farmers are a worried lot because of the lack of demand following the closure of markets and difficulties in transporting the cherries from farms to markets amid Covid-19-related restrictions.

According to the initial reports from different markets there are no demand fresh cherries from Kashmir.

Fruit growers had a lot of expectations from the cherry crop as apple trees suffered damage due to bad weather during flowering. Their livelihood and the education of their children are dependent on the income generated from cherry markets.

It is needs an immediate intervention of authorities to save cherry growers from this fresh financial setback.

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