Srinagar, Aug 17: Six-years ago, Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Repora in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district would grow apples on three kanal of land earning Rs 50,000-70,000 per year. In 2017, he switched to cultivating grapes to get better results.
“Since 2018, I am earning over Rs 2 lakh from grapes cultivation annually. Apples are grown across Kashmir and there is a huge competition. While grapes have a better market and prices as a small percentage of farmers are associated with this fruit,” he said.
Low prices and extensive hard work were the main reasons why he made the switch from apple.
Like Mushtaq, there are hundreds of farmers in Ganderbal district who have started growing grapes over the years in Repora.
Like previous years, they also witnessed bumper production this year.
Grapes are usually ready for harvest in August or till early September.
Mehraj ud Din, another farmer said there are 800 villagers in this village and over 80 percent farmers are cultivating grapes.
“Villagers of other areas across Kashmir especially in Ganderbal are also switching towards this fruit to get better returns. This is a more profitable crop than other fruits like apples,” he said, who also owns over 10 kanals of land on which he cultivates other fruits including apples.
Repora village in Ganderbal district has created a niche for cultivating quality grapes over the years.
In a small picturesque hamlet, grapes are grown in Repora for centuries and the place is called the “grapes village of Kashmir”.
The sweetness of grapes has also been mentioned by Kashmir’s famous saint Sheikh Nooruddin Wali in his poetry.
The villagers attribute the sweetness of grapes to the blessing of another Sufi saint Mir Syed Shah Sadiq Qalandar who lived in this area centuries ago.
In Kashmir as per the official figures of Horticulture Department, the grapes are cultivated on over 400 hectares of land and production goes up to 1,600 MT (Metric Tonnes) every year.
In Ganderbal district alone, the grapes according to official figures were cultivated on 199 hectares during 2020-2021 which rose to 201 hectares in 2021-2022 with the production of 1048 MT and 1205 MT respectively. Of which, the production of Repora village alone is over 800 MT.
The Repora area is famous for cultivating top grades of grapes like Sahiba, Hussaini, Anabeshai which are being sold in various markets of the valley. “The grapes which we grow here are not sufficient to meet the demand in Kashmir. The farmers sell grapes in Mandis and then they are being supplied to different places across the valley. Besides, grapes are also imported from various parts of the country to meet the valley’s demand,” another farmer said.
