Jammu: The fruit merchants of Jammu have suffered losses worth Rs 80 crores in two-months of Kashmir unrest due to suspended supply of horticultural and agricultural products from the Valley. Besides Rs 80 crore losses, the merchants have also claimed that an advance payment of Rs 150 crore of theirs is lying, with Kashmir based fruit growers and merchants, causing an additional burden to their business, said a fruit merchant adding, "the Kashmir prevailing situation has also damaged the different varieties of banana worth Rs 5 crore, which was supposed to be transported to the Valley and hit markets in the month of July and August".
"Nearly two months of tension has left a devastating impact on fruit merchants as it caused the loss of Kashmir apples and walnut worth Rs 80 crore" Rajesh Gupta, president Narwal Fruit Market Association here told UNI.
He said that the non-supply of special varieties, fruits further resulted into the loss to the consumers in the winter capital as well across the country, who have to loosen their wallets to pay exorbitant rates to buy fruits in the coming festival season and ensuing winter. The wholesalers in Jammu are of opinion that the sudden shortage of Kashmiri apples and rich quality walnuts would not only lead to excessive loss to the market but will result into shooting price rise.
"The price of apple is already touching the sky and in the ensuing season, it will further jump," opined the merchant, adding, "as the supply from rest of the country will not be able to procure losses as ultimately depending upon demand of importing apple from Kashmir will be on rise". Delicious Kashmiri apples, have lost a market share in competition to those grown in other parts of the country due to the low price of the variety, he asserted and said that apples from Kashmir, are not only favorite and most desired among Indians but also in an international market.
Nearly 25 varieties of Kashmiri apples including ‘Rajzagwadi’, ‘Hazratbali’, ‘Thokla’ etc, available by June-July end, was not available for sale in Jammu market, Mr Rajesh said adding that even the Kashmir’s pear varieties could not be made available to the Jammu consumers. (UNI)