Ashwani Kumar, a strawberry grower, said, “It is not only the fungus but also the rise in temperature that is threatening the strawberry crop in many areas. Farmers are very worried at the moment.”

He also said the farmers were not getting the strawberry plants from nurseries and, in many cases, had to import them from Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.

Kashmir’s story of profit

SRINAGAR: Growers of strawberries in the Kashmir valley look set for a profitable season. “We sell most of the locally grown strawberries to the tourists. This time growers are likely to earn around Rs two or three crore,” Director, Horticulture, M S Qasba told The Indian Express.

Though it is still considered an intercrop due to its limited production, growers are contemplating increasing its cultivation area and sending strawberries to the Gulf markets. “We have a very limited production of strawberries in Kashmir. In the coming years, not only will its production go up but its revenue will also touch double figures,” Qasba added.

ENS