SHOPIAN: The orchardists in south Kashmir have been hit by communication blackout, which has added to their woes as they are unable to contact the traders outside Kashmir.
Apple fall, intervention of diseases and lack of transport for ferrying the produce has already distressed the growers. A group of growers told Kashmir Reader that they are unable to know the apple market trends outside Kashmir, and could not send their produce to different markets in India because of lack of communication, which has forced them to depend only on New Delhi fruit mandi.
“Sending fruit only to Delhi has created the issues in terms of demand and supply, and has badly affected the rates. We are unable to know the rates in other mandis based in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bangalore, Utter Pradesh, Rajasthan and other markets of India,” a trader from Pulwama said.
Another grower, Tariq Ahmad Malik said that communication blackout has hit the fruit business, and without phones, they are not aware of prices, which has huge impact on their earnings.
The recent floods in many parts of India has also given tough time to fruit growers as they cannot send their produce to the affected areas. Growers said that they don’t know which states and areas have been affected by floods, and are sceptical where to send their produce.
“Earlier we used to call the traders, ask them about the rates and demand of particular apple and other fruit varieties. But now we just send our produce to outside markets without knowing about the demand,” Irshad Ahmad, a grower said.

Raashid Hassan