Srinagar, Mar 15: The usual vibrant watermelon stalls that dot Srinagar’s markets during Ramadhan wear a deserted look this year as unseasonal rains and persistent cold have sent sales plummeting to record lows.
Fruit vendors across the city report mounting losses as the cherished iftar staple sits unsold in their shops.
“I’ve never seen it this bad,” says Maqsood Ahmad, who has been selling fruits for over two decades. “My daily sales are down nearly 70% compared to last Ramadhan. I’m barely covering the transportation costs from bringing these watermelons from Karnataka.”
The Kashmir Valley is experiencing a cold March month this year, with temperatures hovering 4-5 degrees below normal and frequent rain showers disrupting the traditional Ramadhan market rhythm.
For 45-year-old Mohammad Iqbal, who invested heavily in watermelon stocks anticipating brisk Ramadan sales, the weather has proven catastrophic.
“I took loans thinking I’d easily clear them during Ramadhan. Now I’m sitting with mountains of watermelons that nobody wants,” he says, gesturing toward piles of fruit covered with tarpaulin to protect them from the incessant drizzle.
The cold weather has fundamentally altered consumer behaviour during what is traditionally the peak watermelon season. “Who wants to bite into cold, juicy watermelon when you’re already shivering? “My children always look forward to watermelon after breaking their fast, but this year we’re sticking to hot soups,” said Irfan Ahmad.
The economic ripple effect extends beyond local vendors to impact the entire supply chain. Transport operators who ferry watermelons from southern states report significant losses as orders have dried up midway through Ramadhan.
“We typically make three times our normal profit during this month,” says Gulzar Ahmad, who operates a fleet of fruit transportation trucks. “This year we’re struggling to find return loads from Srinagar as nobody wants to risk ordering more stock.”
As weather forecasts predict continued cool conditions for at least another week, fruit sellers are slashing prices in desperate attempts to move inventory. However, even at half the usual Ramadan rates, customers remain scarce.
