Adverse weather conditions hit plum production in Kashmir

Huge snowfall and a long rainy season this year have adversely effected the production of plums which has resulted in the production of this mouth watering fruit going down by more than twenty percent .

Kashmir is known for its fruits and dry-fruits like apples, pears, cherries, grapes, pomegranates, peaches, apricots, walnuts, almonds and plums.

The unusual rainfall and snowfall in some parts of the plum growing area like Kanipora, Budgam and Zakura from March to May this year has damaged the flowers of this fruit due which this year the production has been badly hit .

Kashmiri plums are known for their superior taste and are very popular with the consumers.

But this year plum growers are worried about production that has decreased more than twenty percent as compared to last year.

Manzoor Ahmad, horticulture officer, said, "Well no doubt that the unexpected and huge quantity of rainfall hits blooms of plum which results in the production of this crop decreasing twenty to twenty two percent as compared to last year. But it's natural when production decreases, size improves that helps growers to get good return."

Last year, the harvesting process of plums helped a lot of people to earn a good amount because of a good quality production.

But this year due to the limited production the harvesting has been concluded within two weeks which has badly affected labourers and growers.