The pandemic-stricken 2022 has been a bumper year for Kashmir’s first horticulture produce. Even though ripe and glossy strawberries hang from trees in abundance, the farmers have nowhere to sell. Although there has been a 20% increase, it’s not a cause of cheer for the growers in the valley. The farmers are not being able to get the desired return since they have nowhere to take the produce as most markets and shops are shut due to Covid-19-induced lockdown. The farmers said the government has not even thought of them; forget trying to rescue their crops. Kashmir produces 2,000 to 2,500 metric tonnes of strawberries each year. The cool and pleasant weather makes it suitable for strawberry cultivation. ''Our main source of income is strawberry farming. Due to lockdown, we have to bear 50% to 60% per cent losses this year. There is no point of having a good crop. Earlier, we used to sell the produce in different districts, vendors on boulevard, downtown and even other areas. We even sold in Ganderbal, Shopian and north Kashmir districts,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a Strawberry grower from Srinagar. Like Manzoor Ahmad, scores of other Strawberry farmer in Srinagar’s Batapora area are a worried about their produce. They claim that they are staring at losses. Sources said the farmers are completely on their own and have time and again approached the government for cold storage for strawberries as the fruit has a low shelf life. “We request the government to at least make a cold storage or make a policy like they have for saffron or orchards or cherries. Last year, we had around 100 hectares of land utilised for strawberry farming but this year it was only 70-8,” added Manzoor Ahmad, a strawberry Farmer. Another Strawberry farmer said that even during last year’s Covid lockdown, they managed to sell strawberries to locals but this year people are very scared to even venture out of their homes. This in turn has narrowed their scope of selling strawberries even to locals. ''Production was good this year but with no market, we have to throw our produce away. We have to bear losses even after producing more this year,” said Shabir Ahmad, a farmer. These growers are hoping that the government will step forward to help them in at least creating storage facilities so the crop can be sold later on. Source - https://www.indiatoday.in