Shopian, October 20: It has been two months since the harvesting of apple began in the Shopian district and growers here are still busy in their apple orchids with the apple picking work.
According to growers here, imported high-density apple trees have produced bumper yield this year. The production of fruit has doubled as compared to previous year which has brought a respite for all the growers.
Former president of Arhama fruit Mandi, Mohammad Amin, said that trees are heavily laden with apple especially Delicious variety which is dominantly produced in the district.
“The high-density apple trees were planted in the district only to produce a good yield but this year the Delicious variety has also produced a bumper crop,” he added.
President Fruit Mandi Arhama Shopian, Mohd Ashraf Wani, said that in the September month only, 26 lakh apple boxes have arrived in the Mandi. “Arhama Fruit Mandi is receives 1.5 lakh apple boxes each day and during previous years, the total turnover of Mandi was 900 crore but this year the same may go upto 1200 Cr as the production of apple in the district has doubled,” he added.
Area Marketing Officer Shopian/Kulgam said that previous year 14 lakh apple boxes were dispatched from Kulgam Mandi and this year 8 lac 15 thousand boxes have been dispatched till date while as around 30 lakh boxes have been dispatched Shopian Mandi till date.
