Around 4,000 tonnes of C-grade Kashmiri apples are lying unsold in the valley, causing huge losses to the orchardists.
C-grade apples are smaller in size and have blemishes, making them less attractive to buyers. They are also less durable and have a shorter shelf life.
Orchardists say that there is no demand for C-grade apples in the market. This is because the supply of A-grade and B-grade apples is already high, and buyers are not willing to pay a good price for C-grade apples.
The lack of demand for C-grade apples is causing huge losses to orchardists. Many orchardists are forced to sell their C-grade apples at a loss, or even let them rot on the trees.
The government of Jammu and Kashmir is taking some steps to help orchardists sell their C-grade apples. For example, the government is providing subsidies to orchardists who sell their C-grade apples to fruit processing units.
“However, more needs to be done to help orchardists sell their C-grade apples. The government should explore new markets for C-grade apples, and it should also provide more subsidies to orchardists who sell their C-grade apples to fruit processing units,” locals said.
The total apple production in Jammu and Kashmir in 2023 is estimated to be around 909,600 tonnes. The share of C-grade apples in this production is around 5%.