Bad weather conditions and fewer tourists during the pandemic affected sales by 60-80 percent
The hilly state of Himachal Pradesh is known for its apple orchards and in the past few years its farmers had shifted focus to Cherry cultivation due to its high demand and numerous health benefits. However, this year the farmers had to bear the brunt of Covid-19 induced drop in sales of around 60 to 80 percent.
This was a sudden and unprecedented loss for growers in the now ‘cherry bowl’ areas of Kandiyali, Kumarsen, Narkanda, Baghi, Thanadhara, according to Durgu Verma, a cherry farmer from Kandiyali village in Shimla. This year, the lower sales can be attributed to the fewer numbers of tourists visiting the state due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions and lockdown.
According to Verma, one of the farmers in Kandiyali had sold Rs 20 lakh worth of cherries but was able to get only 30 percent cost for the produce. Bad weather conditions had, earlier in the year, badly hit the farmers. However, due to the Covid-19 situation, despite reporting a bumper crop this year, they are seeing a lowering in the prices for their produce. While a 1 kg box of cherries used to fetch prices between Rs 300 and 500, the present prices are as low as Rs 30 to Rs 100.
Farmers in some areas were unable to transport their produce due to curfew and lockdown and consequently the cherry crop got damaged.
