Kashmir unrest set to jack up apple prices

Hyderabad: The prices of apples are set to rise sharply as fruit dealers in Telangana are apprehensive of a steep fall in the arrival of apples from the trouble-torn Kashmir.

Dealers fear that they might not get good quality fruit and also in required quantity as was the case in 2008 and 2010 when trucks did not arrive as expected due to stone pelting across the valley. Violence in the Kashmir valley has affected apple farmers and traders.

This year, Kashmir is once again in turmoil and the trucks are stuck due to curfew in the valley. Strife, floods and climatic conditions are attributed to the declining apple production in Kashmir showing its effect all over the country, more so in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Rahmat Ali, a fruit merchant at Gaddiannaram says that there has been no major effect on the low-quality apples especially from Shimla but the price of Kashmiri apples are getting costlier.

The apple season lasts for four months. Apples from Himachal Pradesh start arriving in the city from the first week of August and from September second week the Kashmir variety.

Mohammed Abdul Saleem of B S Fruits Company says, “As of now, we are getting 15-20 trucks of apples a day from Shimla but it is hard to tell if the same trend would continue about Kashmir apples due to the uncertain situation prevailing in Kashmir.”

Month-wise arrivals and price of apples in last two years:
On an average, 100 to 120 tonnes of apples arrive in the state daily but traders say that it would not be sufficient to meet the demand of the state. The falling number of arrivals is a major cause of worry for traders.

In August 2016, 419,243 boxes arrived at the Gaddiannaram market as compared to just 52,306 boxes in August 2017. Each box has 20-25 kg apples.

M Laxminarayana, secretary, Agricultural Market Committee, Gaddiannaram said, “Normally, the auction would go on throughout the day but these days it is getting over within a hour.

Prices of quality apples may get costlier this year as the arrivals are low.” There are two grades of apples of which the Royal Apple, A selected and Red Golden are of premium quality but it is B grade apples that are seen more in the market now.

Dr Hussain, a regular top the Moazzamjahi market says, “Good premium quality apples from Shopian, the apple district of Kashmir, are hard to get unlike in the past.”

According to estimates, apple dealers association in Kashmir estimates a loss of close to Rs 100 crore this season. Dealers say that prices of different varieties of apples from Kashmir could go up significantly this year.

On an average, a box of apples was sold at Rs 300-800 and premium quality between Rs 950 and Rs 1,100 last year.

2015-16

2016 -17

Month	Max	Min	Average	Max	Min	Average
April	2200	600	800	2000	300	1000
May	2200	500	850	2200	450	950
June	2200	600	1200	2300	400	900
July	2200	450	850	2200	450	1100
August	2300	400	800	2100	400	1000