Srinagar: Smiles have returned to fruit growers after Nepal and Bhutan agreed to import apples from Kashmir.
Earlier, Bangladesh was the only country in South Asia that was importing Kashmiri apples in bulk.
Sopore Fruit Mandi has become the hot spot for these dealers with trucks loaded with apples leaving for these two countries every day.
Fayaz Ahmad Malik, President of Sopore Fruit Mandi said the apple dealers from Bhutan and Nepal have recently joined the chorus of being importers for Kashmir apple varieties.
Although in less quantity compared to Bangladesh, he said the demand for Kashmiri apple varieties has started growing in both these countries.
“While Nepal for the last few years has been importing our apples, Bhutan has started it recently. During the season, Nepal imports more than a metric ton and Butan, which is a very small country, also imports in good quantities,” he said.
Malik said both these countries could prove a potential market for Kashmir apple varieties as the demand is gradually growing in both these nations.
“Compared to the previous years, the exports have grown. In the coming years we expect the quantity of exports to grow by more than 50 percent,” he said.
Malik said Nepal mostly imports American variety while Bhutan witnesses a good demand for American and delicious varieties.
He said Bangladesh imports more than three lakh metric tons of apples, mostly American varieties, from Sopore fruit mandi during the season.
Surjit Kumar, a Nepal-based dealer who has been camping in Kashmir for the last one month said the demand for Kashmir apples is growing within his country.
“Nepal imports apples from other countries also. Kashmiri apples are way much tastier and superior than the varieties from other countries. We import apples from Sopore mandi and sell them in various fruit markets of Nepal.,” he said.
The Kashmiri apple is considered a premium product due to its unique taste and high nutritional value.
