Bageshwar: The cheap and abundantly available kiwi from Iran has had a deep impact on the local kiwi farming in Bageshwar district. Till now, Bageshwar region of Uttarakhand, especially Shama, Leeti, Kausani, Kanda and Baghar, was considered the center of premium quality kiwi production. Kiwi used to have a strong hold in big consumer markets like Delhi, Meerut, Lucknow, Bareilly, but this time the situation has completely changed.
The huge arrival of foreign kiwi and low prices have created a serious challenge for local producers. Local produce trader Virendra Singh told Local 18 that in the last few months, Iranian kiwi has gained dominance in almost every major market. Due to large scale production in Iran and low cost, this fruit is available cheap in the Indian market. Local businessman Harish Singh says that while last year Kiwi from Bageshwar was sold at Rs 250 to Rs 275 per kg, this time the prices have fallen to Rs 200 to Rs 210 per kg. This means that the direct income of farmers has reduced by Rs 50 to Rs 75 per kg, which is a big blow for small farmers.
Farmers forced to sell goods at low prices
At the same time, this price fall is a news of relief for consumers, because nutritious fruit like Kiwi is easily available at cheap prices, but on the other hand, farmers are very worried about this situation. Kiwi grower Bhawan Singh Koranga says that at the beginning of the season, he was hopeful that the market would be profitable this time too, but as soon as the demand from outside markets decreased, the prices suddenly started falling. He says that due to fall in prices, many farmers were forced to sell their produce at lower prices, which has directly affected their income.
Local farmer Hayat Singh believes that the low price and large size of Iranian kiwi has changed the perception of the market. Many traders are buying Iranian goods only on the basis of price, whereas mountain kiwi is still considered better in terms of quality and taste. Farmers also say that if local products get branding, transportation subsidy and marketing support at the government level, then they can easily compete with foreign Kiwis.
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Relief may be available at the end of the season
Meanwhile, experts associated with the market believe that prices may rise once again in the last phase of the season. Because after December-January, the large consignment of Iranian Kiwi starts getting exhausted, whereas the Kiwi of Bageshwar is considered durable for a long time. In such a situation, farmers are expecting a slight increase in prices if the stock gets reduced at the end of the season. However, real relief will come only when local producers get permanent support and protected prices in the market. Overall, the increasing competition from foreign fruits has forced the farmers of Bageshwar to struggle with market imbalance. If this situation continues, then in the coming time, there may be a big threat to Kiwi farming in the hills.
