Apple growers struggle as CA storage delays risk spoilage

Shopian, Sep 28: Apple growers in Kashmir are facing long delays in storing their produce at Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage facilities, raising fears that large quantities of fruit could spoil before reaching the units.

With repeated disruptions on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, arrivals at CA storages have surged in recent weeks. By 17 September, nearly 1.25 lakh metric tonnes of apples had been placed in these facilities. However, growers say a shortage of manpower has slowed the storage process, forcing farmers to wait in long queues with trucks carrying perishable fruit.

“Growers are finding it extremely difficult to store their produce,” said Mohammad Ashraf, president of the Fruit Mandi in Shopian. “Due to a manpower shortage, the CA storage is unable to take in fruit quickly, and farmers are left waiting for days. There is every chance the fruit will spoil,” he added.

Outside major storage units in south Kashmir, dozens of trucks carrying freshly harvested apples were lined up, with drivers and growers waiting for their turn. Many said the delays were increasing costs, as trucks remained stranded for days instead of returning to orchards for fresh loads.

The manpower shortage has emerged as a major bottleneck at a critical stage of the harvest season, when apples are brought in bulk from orchards across Kashmir. “We request the owners to increase their workforce during the peak harvest season so that produce can be stored on time,” Ashraf said.

Irshad Ahmad, a driver, said that he had been waiting for seven hours outside a CA storage in Lassipora to deposit his produce.

Kashmir’s CA storages, introduced in recent years to prolong the shelf life of apples and improve marketing, have a total capacity of around 3.2 lakh metric tonnes. These facilities enable apples to be stored for several months without losing quality, allowing growers to fetch better prices in markets outside the region.

Storage operators acknowledged that manpower shortages have slowed operations, but pointed to the sudden surge in arrivals this season. “The disruptions on the Jammu-Srinagar highway pushed more growers to move their produce quickly, leading to a rush at our gates,” said one operator, requesting anonymity.