After honey, Kashmir’s quality garlic hits national market

According to official figures, a total of 1776.50 hectares in the Kashmir valley were under garlic production in the year 2021-2022, and the total garlic produced in the year was 553480 quintals, of which 110696 quintals were exported outside the Jammu Kashmir region.

Farmers earned Rs 44.27 crore in revenue last year, according to the figures.

The Pulwama district of Kashmir valley produces the most garlic, while the garlic from the Kulgam district of Jammu Kashmir is one of the purest varieties that can survive in the cold and high-altitude environment.

According to Irshad Ahmed Dar, a Progressive farmer and member of the Kisan Advisory Board, garlic production occurs throughout the valley, with the highest production occurring in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. "The district produced garlic worth Rs 21 crores last year," he said.

He expressed sadness, saying that despite the fact that the prices of essential commodities and vegetables, such as garlic, have skyrocketed in the markets, producers are receiving very little for their produce. He claimed that the administration failed to ensure a fair price for sellers and did little to ensure that. He demanded that the administration take the issue of rates seriously, or else farmers would have to stop producing. "In the market, garlic costs around 40 rupees per kilogramme, but the farmer only gets 20 rupees," Irshad explained.

The official denied the claims, stating that farmers are paid Rs 30 per kilogramme and that once the garlic is dried, the prices rise. "When the garlic is ripe, the farmers sell it."Then it needs to be dried up, and there is a process involved before it goes to the market," Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Director Agriculture Kashmir, explained.

He stated that anyone found engaging in unfair pricing of garlic would face consequences.