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Fruit production shows a downward trend, farmers blame government inefficiency and policy failures for the crisis
By Shahid Khazir Dar
As Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah unveiled the region’s first budget in six years, 55-year-old Ghulam Mohammad Dar sat in his apple orchard, scrolling through his smartphone, hoping for relief measures to ease the mounting struggles of Kashmir’s apple growers.
However, as the budget details unfolded, his hopes faded.
“I thought the budget would bring some respite for us. We hoped there would be something to celebrate, but there was nothing,” sighed Ghulam Mohammad, echoing the despair of thousands of orchardists across the valley.
“Year after year, we invest everything into these orchards, but without adequate government support, we are left to struggle alone. Falling production and rising costs are pushing us to the brink.”
Kashmir’s apple industry, which sustains nearly half of the region’s population directly or indirectly, is facing one of its worst crises in recent years.
According to the 2017 economic survey of Jammu and Kashmir, over 3.5 lakh hectares are under apple cultivation covering about 48 per cent of the total horticulture area, as per the 2016-17 horticulture census, with the industry valued at Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000 crore annually.
Apple Orchards as Industry
According to the 2025 Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, approximately 1.72 lakh hectares are under apple cultivation, covering about 49.94 per cent of the total horticulture area as per the latest horticulture census. The total horticulture area in the region stands at 3.44 lakh hectares.
The apple industry continues to be a significant contributor to the economy, with the horticulture sector employing around 35 lakh people and contributing 6-7 per cent to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
Kashmir accounts for 75 per cent of India’s total apple production. Around seven lakh families and 33 lakh people are directly or indirectly associated with horticulture, the survey reveals.
However, the sector is now grappling with declining yields, erratic weather, rising input costs, and government apathy.
Declining Production and Policy Failures
According to the China Economic Information Centre (CIEC) — a global economic and financial data provider that offers macroeconomic and industry-specific insights for various countries — in 2024, apple production in Jammu and Kashmir dropped to 2,054.828 thousand tons, down from 2,146.347 thousand tons in 2023.
This decline was attributed to erratic weather patterns, substandard pesticides, and rising input costs.
Bashir Ahmad Basheer, president of the New Kashmir Fruit Association, blamed government inefficiency and policy failures for the crisis. “It is both a policy failure and government inefficiency,” he said. “They introduced dozens of new apple varieties, yet production keeps falling. Instead of supporting local growers, the system is pushing us toward collapse.”
Bashir told the Kashmir Times that the latest budget failed to address the sector’s pressing needs, including demands for yield-based crop insurance and a market intervention scheme (MIS). “Our demands, which we highlighted during pre-budget interactions with the government, were completely ignored,” he added.
Traders’ Frustration: A ‘Collective Collapse’
At the Sopore Fruit Mandi, the second-largest fruit market in Asia, traders echoed similar concerns. Fayaz Ahmad Malik, the market president, expressed frustration over the government’s lack of action. “We are being subjected to fake promises. The government and policymakers are completely unaware of how this industry works. This is a collective failure,” he said.
Ahmad revealed that before the budget, he met the chief minister and other ministers to highlight the crisis. Fourteen key demands were presented, including waiving off Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans, implementing a crop insurance scheme, and reintroducing the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).
Under the MIS, the government had previously procured lower-grade apples at fixed rates, helping farmers mitigate losses. However, none of these demands were addressed in the budget.
“We have been expressing concern over the negligence of this industry. The government introduces schemes, but they only benefit the capitalist class. The poor grower gains nothing from these policies. Prices are skyrocketing, and we are left with no support,” Ahmad lamented.
Growers Speak Out: A Struggle for Survival
For growers like Jaan Mohammad from Sopore, who has been in the industry for over 20 years, this is the most challenging period he has faced. “We expected subsidies and some relief in pesticide and fertilizer prices. Instead, we got nothing. The cost of farming is rising, and profits are shrinking. If this continues, many small growers like me will be forced to abandon apple farming altogether,” he said.
Altaf Ahmad Yatoo, another grower, spoke about the dual challenges of the impact of unseasonal weather and lack of financial support. “Unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and sudden temperature changes are damaging everything. Without financial support or crop insurance, we are left to suffer losses every year. We have loans, but we are not earning enough to pay them off. We want the government to waive off loans or provide relief so we can feed our families instead of paying Equal Monthly Installments (EMIs),” he said.
Yatoo also pointed to rising freight charges and inadequate cold storage facilities as major challenges. “Freight charges have skyrocketed, making it difficult to send our produce to major markets. Cold storage is either unavailable or too expensive. How are we supposed to survive in such conditions?” he asked.
A Sector Crying for Help
Despite repeated pleas, the government’s silence on Kashmir’s apple industry has left growers and traders feeling abandoned. The lack of price regulation, storage infrastructure, and financial aid continues to push the industry toward a crisis.
Indeed, unfortunately, for now, the hopes of thousands of apple growers like Ghulam Mohammad Dar remain pinned on a government that has yet to acknowledge their plight.