Strawberry farmers impacted by Pahalgam tragedy

By Rameez Makhdoomi

Strawberry is the fruit of love and passion. It has many health benefits. Gaasu village in the Srinagar District has emerged as a hub of strawberry fruit, known for its great taste and aura.

 However, the gruesome tragedy of Pahalgam, which occurred on April 22, 2025, resulting in the deaths of 26 tourists due to terror attack shattered the entire nation and humanity.

Manzoor Ahmad, credited with introducing strawberry cultivation in Gaasu, stated while speaking to Jaazbat 24 that this year's harvest was good due to the early summer. However, he believes the Pahalgam terror attack severely impacted the market. He said, "The painful terror attack in Pahalgam, followed by India-Pakistan clashes, resulted in almost zero tourists. Last year, scores of tourists directly purchased large quantities of fruit from our farms at good prices, but this market was hit badly. It's essential to remember that strawberries have a short shelf life and can be transported at best up to Jammu, so they mainly depend on the local market. We hope the situation improves in the coming times."

The picturesque Gaasu village, abundant with strawberry crops, presents a beautiful landscape. The strawberries of Gaasu are renowned for their finest taste among the world's strawberries. Over the years, strawberry cultivation has grown significantly in the area .

People here remain motivated to enrich reputation as strawberry land of India .