Apple growers and traders in Kashmir are facing mounting losses as prices have dropped sharply in recent weeks, industry representatives and farmers said.

Wholesale prices in markets outside Jammu and Kashmir have fallen by 30–40 per cent, driven by rising temperatures and a decline in fruit quality, they said.

“Traders in wholesale markets outside J&K are not purchasing much produce due to the rise in temperatures,” said Izhan Javed, spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir Fruit and Vegetable Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA).

An estimated 3 to 3.5 million apple crates were stored in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) facilities across Kashmir this season, a higher-than-usual volume. Industry players said the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in August last year, coupled with low market prices at the time, forced many growers and traders to divert their produce to storage.

Although a large portion of the stock was sold in subsequent months, a significant quantity remains unsold, reflecting weak demand in key markets.

“About 30 per cent of the total stored produce is still lying unsold in CA storages,” Javed said. Farmers said falling quality of stored apples has further weighed on prices.

Mohammad Ashraf Wani, a fruit cultivator and trader, said the widely grown Delicious variety is currently selling for Rs 700 to Rs 1,000 per 10-kg crate.

“Two weeks ago, it was selling between ₹1,000 and ₹1,300,” he said, highlighting the rapid decline.

Wani added that prolonged storage and fluctuating temperatures have affected the quality of apples in CA facilities, reducing their market value.

Traders said the slowdown in demand has also been influenced by increased arrivals of fresh seasonal fruits in markets, further pushing apple prices down. They warned that if the trend continues, growers may struggle to recover even their input costs this season.

The slump has compounded difficulties for Kashmir’s horticulture sector, a vital pillar of the region’s economy. The apple industry supports around 700,000 families, either directly or indirectly, and contributes more than ₹10,000 crore each year.

Published on April 17, 2026