Srinagar, July 1: Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage, once regarded as the most reliable way for Kashmir's apple growers to secure better returns, is increasingly losing its appeal as rising storage costs, declining market prices and mounting production expenses erode farmers' profits.

Across the Valley's apple belt, growers say the economics of storing fruit for months in CA facilities no longer add up. While the technology helps preserve apples and enables staggered marketing, many orchardists claim that the additional expenses now outweigh the financial benefits.
Apple cultivation remains the backbone of Kashmir's horticulture sector, supporting nearly 35 lakh people directly or indirectly. The Valley has witnessed significant investment in modern CA storage infrastructure over the past decade, allowing growers to avoid distress sales immediately after harvest and market their produce during lean seasons.
However, growers now say that the promise of higher returns has steadily weakened.
"We spend heavily on fertilizers, pesticides, labour, grading, packaging, transportation and storage. By the time the apples are sold, very little profit remains," said an orchard owner from Shopian.
According to growers, CA storage charges have increased considerably over the years. Added to this are expenses on cartons, trays, transportation and commission charges in wholesale markets, significantly raising the overall cost of marketing.
Many farmers complain that despite holding apples for several months, market prices often fail to compensate for the additional expenditure.
"The difference between harvest-time prices and post-storage prices is shrinking every year. Sometimes prices even fall after months of storage, leaving growers in losses," another orchardist from Sopore said.
Fruit traders attribute the changing market dynamics to increasing imports, changing consumer preferences, inconsistent demand and greater competition from apples produced in other states as well as imported varieties.
Growers also point to unpredictable weather patterns, including untimely snowfall, hailstorms and prolonged dry spells, which have affected both production and fruit quality in recent years. Lower-quality produce often fails to fetch premium prices even after being preserved in CA facilities.
The situation has become particularly difficult for small and marginal orchard owners, many of whom depend on loans to finance cultivation and storage.
Horticulture experts acknowledge that CA storage remains an important post-harvest technology but stress that its financial viability depends on stable market conditions and efficient marketing systems.
They argue that unless growers receive remunerative prices, merely increasing storage capacity will not solve the sector's problems.
Several growers have urged the government to review storage charges, improve market linkages, expand export opportunities and strengthen price support mechanisms to protect orchardists from market volatility.
Farmer associations have also sought measures to reduce input costs and improve access to affordable credit, saying the long-term sustainability of Kashmir's apple industry depends on ensuring reasonable returns to producers.
Despite the current challenges, horticulture experts believe CA storage will continue to play a vital role in preserving fruit quality and reducing post-harvest losses. However, they caution that unless profitability improves, an increasing number of growers may choose to sell their produce immediately after harvest rather than bear the additional burden of long-term storage.
With another apple season approaching, uncertainty continues to prevail across Kashmir's orchards, where growers hope that favourable weather, improved market prices and supportive policy interventions will restore confidence in one of the region's most important economic sectors.