Beginning Monday, more than 12,000 trucks left Kashmir, bringing the total amount of apples shipped out of the region this year to nearly 0.7 million metric tonnes, compared to 1 million at this point last year. Traders have been undeterred by a slight spike in attacks by militants on people involved in the apple industry. “We are sending apple to outside markets but we are suffering huge losses,” said Fayaz Ahmad Malik, who is based in Sopore in northern Kashmir. Apple growers and traders, though, have shunned a federal government plan to directly buy 1.2 million metric tonnes, saying the prices offered were low. Since Sept. 16, the government has only bought about 1,600 metric tonnes, shipped out on 70 trucks, according to official data reviewed by Reuters.

Source: New Strait Times October 18, 2019 13:07 UTC