Kashmir farmers get bumper plum crop

Srinagar, July 19 (ANI): Good rains and moderate temperature have yielded a bumper plum crop for farmers in the Kashmir valley.

Farmers are busy harvesting the fruit, which are mostly grown in the Bhagati Kanipora area of Budgam District and in Zakura in Gulabbag District.

"There is no doubt that the rates of plums this year is lower than the last year, but as the production is very high this year, I hope that the farmers would not only get return of their investments, but also earn profit out of it," said Sham Lal Sharma, the State's Minister for Horticulture.

Plum Dealer Abdul Hameed said:

"This year we have a bumper production of plums. This year the rain was also adequate and the quality of the fruits is therefore very good."

Kashmir produces the Sentroza plum, the Silver plum and the Chogandhra plum.

Kashmiri plums have a good market in Delhi, Punjab, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and Kolkata.

According to government records, 2,000 hectares of land is under plum cultivation. This year, plum production is expected to be thirty percent extra compared to last year, which was 5500 metric tonnes. (ANI)