Editorial | Cold Tales of North Kashmir’s Apple Belt

North Kashmir’s apple farmers are again looking at losses. Prices are low, transport is scarce, and cold storage facilities are virtually nonexistent. In Sopore to Handwara and Kupwara, hundreds of farmers have postponed harvesting expecting that rates would pick up. But hope cannot substitute infrastructure. Without cold stores, the fruit won’t last long.

Kashmir’s economy depends heavily on horticulture. Nearly 70 percent of the population in north Kashmir earns directly or indirectly from apple cultivation. Sopore alone, known as the “Apple Town of Asia,” handles thousands of tonnes of produce every season. But despite this scale, the region lacks enough modern cold storage facilities. This shortage is not a small issue. It decides how much the farmer earns, how much he loses, and how stable his livelihood remains.

The valley yields about 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, while the state’s total cold storage capacity is less than 2 lakh tonnes. The majority of it is in south and central Kashmir. North Kashmir has very few cold stores well short of the need. Baramulla, which is the biggest apple-producing district, only boasts a few operational facilities. Kupwara and Bandipora have near to none. The gap can be seen every season when markets collapse and farmers are compelled to dump their fruit at giveaway prices.

If prices fall, a cold store is the grower’s armor. It lets the farmer store the produce, bide time, and sell when prices recover. Without such a facility, farmers are left at the mercy of middlemen who fix prices. Middlemen make profits while growers make losses. A cold store can increase returns by 25 to 40 percent if used efficiently. It can also reduce wastage by half. Yet the idea has not received the attention it deserves.

In Kupwara and Handwara, apple farmers have persistently appealed to the government to establish cooperative storage facilities. These can be used by several villages and be used fairly. Private entrepreneurs are unwilling due to heavy investment requirements and uncertain government policies. One CA facility using contemporary technology would cost several crores. For small growers, this is out of question without government assistance or access to credit.

The Horticulture Department has also introduced various schemes for storage development, but the process is slow. Bureaucratic delays and poor monitoring have halted many projects midway. Some of the storage units introduced under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) remain incomplete. The consequence is that apple growers are still banking on conventional “kothas” or temporary sheds where apples can be stored for just a few weeks. They are no match for the temperature-controlled modern systems that can keep fruit for six months.

Improved storage is not merely about preserving apples. It has the potential to transform the economy of the entire region. Storage and packaging complexes constructed in Sopore, Handwara, and Kupwara can lead to new industries around them. Grading, sorting, packing, and transportation services can provide local employment for hundreds of people. Export quality can be enhanced, and more outsiders can be attracted as buyers.

Cold stores also save farmers from weather unpredictability. In north Kashmir, where premature snow and unexpected rains frequently strike the crop, correct storage provides growers with a buffer. They can harvest early and still sell late. It provides flexibility and strength to the producer.

The government needs to move quickly. District authorities need to identify suitable land and encourage joint ventures with private sector investors. Subsidies and soft loans need to be simplified and made available. Every district needs at least two large CA storage facilities prior to the upcoming season. Policy attention needs to switch from announcements to delivery.

North Kashmir’s apple tale has never been one of perseverance and long-suffering. Year on year, the farmers lost money but kept toiling. They are owed better than words. They are owed a system that safeguards their crops and guarantees rightful returns.

If cold stores go up in Sopore, Handwara, and Kupwara, they will not only stock apples. They will stock hope. They will stock the future of an economy that sustains thousands of families and keeps Kashmir’s rural areas going.