The strawberry harvest has started in several parts of Kashmir. However, farmers claim that torrential rains have affected this year’s crop. Still, the harvest in Gaasu Khimber area of Srinagar is in full swing these days. Strawberry production in the valley has suffered 30 percent losses this year due to the torrential rains in April and May.
One strawberry grower from Hazratbal Srinagar said that the torrential rains have affected 30 percent of the crop produce: “This year we have good transport facilities and we are able to send the produce to the Parimpora Fruit Mandi without any issue as we would face in the past. We mostly send the fruit directly to the Mandi and some customers also take directly from farmers.”
Some farmers requested the government to announce a scheme in their favor so that strawberry as a crop could be developed and production increase in the future.
In Kashmir, there is an area of 80 hectares of land under strawberry cultivation and on average, it produces approximately 350 to 400 tons of the fruit.
Source: risingkashmir.com