Kashmir fruit growers have complained about the high air cargo tariffs being charged for ferrying cherry to outside markets. On Tuesday, 11 tons of cherry were airlifted in two flights from the Srinagar International Airport for Mumbai and Bengaluru. This is the highest single day supply airlifted this season so far.

However, the growers who have already been at the receiving end due to closure of mandis in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru owing to covid19 outbreak and lockdown, complained about the high air cargo tariffs.

President if the New Kashmir Fruit Association, Basheer Ahmad Bashir, said the cargo rates are “almost double” compared to last year. “While the government-owned airline had earlier promised to charge Rs 30 per kg cherry from Srinagar to Mumbai, we have ended up paying Rs 50. This leaves little scope for any profit,” he told.