Kupwara, Oct 9: Proper grading and packing of apples can help growers secure better prices in the market, President Fruit Mandi Handwara Mohammad Amin Wani said on Friday, urging growers to maintain quality standards before bringing their produce to the mandi.
Wani said growers had repeatedly been advised to grade apples according to their size and quality and avoid mixing different grades in the same boxes.
“Properly graded and packed apples not only attract better rates but also help build confidence among buyers and traders,” he said.
He said good-quality apples remained the preferred choice of traders visiting Handwara Fruit Mandi from outside the region, adding that proper grading and packing could help growers improve their returns in a competitive market.
Wani said good-quality apples were currently fetching around Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 per box. He expressed hope that prices would improve further ahead of Diwali, with a possible rise in market demand.
Expressing concern over losses caused by leaf miner disease this season, Wani said the disease had affected apple production and quality in several areas, adding to growers’ financial difficulties amid rising input and transportation costs.
He urged the government and concerned horticulture authorities to intensify disease-control measures and provide timely technical assistance to affected growers.
“If effective measures are not taken against the disease, it could continue to affect growers as well as traders in the coming seasons,” he said.
On apple arrivals, Wani said the volume of produce reaching the mandi had declined compared with the previous year. He attributed the decline to reduced production in several areas and disease-related damage.
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