Several corporates engaged in direct procuring apples directly from farmers are set to venture into Jammu & Kashmir for the first time this year, even as apple production in Himachal Pradesh is expected to drop significantly, industry insiders said.
Several corporates engaged in direct procuring apples directly from farmers are set to venture into Jammu & Kashmir for the first time this year, even as apple production in Himachal Pradesh is expected to drop significantly, industry insiders said.
Companies such as Adani Agri Fresh, CONCOR, Reliance Fresh, Mother Dairy and Big Basket had started direct procurement of apples in Himachal Pradesh in recent years to avoid middlemen.
But drop in the output due to climate change in Himachal Pradesh had squeezed margins for companies and also increased competition in procurement. Scanty rains, less snowfall and rampant deforestation had affected the apple output in the recent years in the state
Kolkata-based conglomerate ITC Limited plans to start direct apple procurement for the first time this year. “The company will buy from Himachal Pradesh as well as Jammu & Kashmir,” a company executive told ET on condition of anonymity.
With output in Himachal Pradesh is expected to be only half of the normal level for the second season running mainly because of scanty rains in the last two months, most corporates plan to procure apple from farmers in Jammu & Kashmir this season.
“We will buy apples directly from farmers in Kashmir for the first time and are already in talks with growers in various districts in the valley,” said Kumar Aggarwal, director, marketing and procurement, at Dev Bhumi Limited. The company plans to purchase 7,000 tonnes of apple primarily for retail chains.
Companies such as Adani Agri Fresh, CONCOR, Reliance Fresh, Mother Dairy and Big Basket had started direct procurement of apples in Himachal Pradesh in recent years to avoid middlemen.
But drop in the output due to climate change in Himachal Pradesh had squeezed margins for companies and also increased competition in procurement. Scanty rains, less snowfall and rampant deforestation had affected the apple output in the recent years in the state
Kolkata-based conglomerate ITC Limited plans to start direct apple procurement for the first time this year. “The company will buy from Himachal Pradesh as well as Jammu & Kashmir,” a company executive told ET on condition of anonymity.
With output in Himachal Pradesh is expected to be only half of the normal level for the second season running mainly because of scanty rains in the last two months, most corporates plan to procure apple from farmers in Jammu & Kashmir this season.
“We will buy apples directly from farmers in Kashmir for the first time and are already in talks with growers in various districts in the valley,” said Kumar Aggarwal, director, marketing and procurement, at Dev Bhumi Limited. The company plans to purchase 7,000 tonnes of apple primarily for retail chains.