Extreme weather, Covid hit apple crop

Srinagar, October 4

Javid Ahmad shook his head in disgust at the bag of carrots while arranging vegetables on his roadside stall near here – half of the carrots were broken or mouldy, and not fit for sale.

“This is what farmers are getting from their farms this year,” said the 41-year-old vegetable seller. Ahmad understands the challenges farmers are facing, as three months of drought on top of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic have led to a sharp drop in the quantity and quality of fruit and vegetables grown in the region. And customers are paying for it, the vendor added, with shortages pushing up the cost of fresh produce “beyond imagination”. — Reuters