The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Cold storage facilities across Kashmir have been fully booked amid encouraging demand for apples this season, with growers hoping for better returns when the stored produce reaches the market in the coming months.

Growers said demand for Kashmiri apples has remained encouraging, raising expectations of favourable prices when the produce kept in cold storage is released for sale. Storing apples, they said, allows them to avoid selling their entire crop during peak harvesting, when large arrivals put pressure on market rates.

"Demand for apples has remained good this year, which has given growers some hope of better returns. If demand remains strong, it could benefit growers who have invested in storing their produce," Mohammad Yousuf, a grower from south Kashmir, told the news agency KNO.

Abbas Ahmad, a fruit grower from Sirhama Anantnag, said when a large quantity of apples reaches the markets at the same time, growers often have to sell at whatever rates are available. "By storing a portion of the crop, we can wait for the right time and avoid selling everything under pressure," he said.

Cold storage operators said many orchardists had begun arranging storage space months before the harvesting season, leaving little capacity for those who delayed.

Shahid Ahmad, a cold storage operator, said the experience of last season had prompted operators to pay greater attention to quality and grading. "Last year, some consignments contained mixed grades, and the quality of a portion of the produce deteriorated during storage. This resulted in losses for growers as well as operators. We are therefore insisting on properly graded and sorted apples," he said.

Another operator said cold storage can preserve good-quality apples but cannot improve fruit that is already damaged. "Growers need to ensure proper sorting, grading and packing before bringing their produce to the facilities," he said.

Growers said the rush for storage space was also linked to difficulties faced last season, when a large volume of fruit reached the markets within a short period and transportation disruptions added to the uncertainty.

An orchardist from Pulwama said access to storage facilities had become increasingly important as apple cultivation remains a major source of livelihood for thousands of families. "Apple cultivation involves substantial expenditure on fertilisers, pesticides, labour and transportation. After investing so much, growers naturally want a reasonable price. Cold storage gives us an opportunity to hold back some of the crop," he said.

Growers also pointed out that storing apples involves additional expenses, including storage charges, packaging and transportation, making it important for market prices to improve sufficiently to cover these costs. They said while cold storage can reduce the pressure to sell immediately after harvesting, it is not a guaranteed means of securing higher prices.

Growers said the increasing demand for cold storage highlighted the need to strengthen post-harvest infrastructure in Kashmir, calling for expansion of storage facilities, improved transportation connectivity and better market arrangements to help orchardists secure remunerative prices.

SRINAGAR — The educational institutions across Kashmir Valley are set to begin the academic session 2026–27 from November 2 for KG to Class 10 students.

An official informed that the new academic session commenced after the schools completed annual assessments and declared results in line with the academic calendar.

The schools, according to the news agency KNO, are expected to begin regular classes, issue textbooks and prepare a new curriculum in the first week of November.

The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education had earlier said that the free textbooks among students will be distributed to various educational zones in the first week of November.

Earlier, former Education Minister, Sakeena Itoo directed the officials to ensure timely completion of preparation of textbooks, syllabus and other needs.

Moreover, a stakeholders meeting was held to ensure clarity on fees, availability of textbooks in schools and coordination between government and private educational institutions in Kashmir.

Pertinently, the concluded academic year witnessed a few disruptions, forcing the government to close schools across the Valley.

The closure was ordered amid protests and security restrictions following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with schools and colleges shut until March 7, 2026, during that episode.

Besides, low-intensity floods in parts of the Valley also affected normal classwork and other academic activities, forcing the government to order temporary closure of educational institutions in Kashmir.

After brief disruptions, academic activities were restored in all the educational institutions in the Valley.

NEW DELHI — Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Saturday took over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who retired after 42 years of service in the Indian Air Force (IAF).

As per details available with the news agency KNO, AP Singh superannuated on October 31, bringing to a close a career during which he held several important operational and leadership assignments and contributed to the force’s combat preparedness and modernisation.

An accomplished fighter pilot and Experimental Test Pilot, AP Singh served as Chief of the Air Staff during a period marked by a focus on operational readiness, particularly during ‘Operation Sindoor,’ in which the IAF demonstrated its operational capabilities.

During his tenure, Singh, as per details, stressed indigenisation, innovation and the adoption of emerging technologies to strengthen the IAF's operational capabilities. He maintained a strong focus on personnel, encouraging professionalism, accountability and initiative among air warriors.

Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned into the Fighter Stream of the IAF on December 6, 1986.

With a career spanning four decades, Dixit has extensive experience in operations, flight testing, capability development and joint staff assignments. An accomplished fighter pilot, Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, he has logged over 3,300 hours of flying on various aircraft, including Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar and transport aircraft.

He played an important role in the modernisation of the IAF and was instrumental in finalising the Jaguar and MiG-27 upgrade projects, besides contributing to the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) activities of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-I Tejas.

His operational assignments include command of a Mirage-2000 squadron, a Forward Base Support Unit in the Western Sector and Air Force Station Bidar, a key fighter training base.

Dixit has also served as Air Defence Commander at Southern Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.

Before taking over as Air Chief, he commanded Central Air Command as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief and served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee during ‘Operation Sindoor.’ He subsequently served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

In recognition of his distinguished service, Dixit has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

The Indian Air Force wished AP Singh and his wife, Mrs Sarita Singh, the very best for the years ahead, saying his leadership, operational resolve and connect with air warriors would continue to inspire future generations.