Mahraji apple’s decline threatens Kashmir’s fruit legacy

Modern demands reshaping Kashmir’s orchards

The Mahraji apple, once a cherished winter tradition in Kashmir, is fading away. Known for its unique flavor and long shelf life, it now faces decline due to rising costs and competition from faster-ripening varieties. As a result, this iconic fruit's future in Kashmir's orchards grows increasingly uncertain.

The Mahraji apple, once a beloved winter tradition in Kashmir, is quietly fading away. Its unique flavour and long shelf life made it a cherished part of familial memories, but rising costs and competition from faster-ripening varieties are pushing it into obscurity. This iconic fruit, tied to generations of farmers and families, now faces a decline and as time passes, its place in Kashmir’s orchards grows ever more uncertain.
The apple season in Kashmir spans from August to October, with September marking the peak of the harvest. However, the Mahraji apple, a large-sized apple with bright ad colourful skin, is absent from this season. It is juicy but acidic, and its sweetness increases with storage. It is also rich in phytochemicals that reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Due to its unique attributes, the Mahraji apple is also used as apple juice concentrate to maintain its acid blend. This variety is ‘hardy’and is less prone to common plant diseases such as scab.

One of the unique features of the Mahraji apple is the harvest time as it ripens in late October, making it a special treat for the winter months when fresh fruit is scarce. It would remain on the trees long after the other apples were harvested, offering a taste of autumn when it was needed most. Families use it to bake pies, make jams, and even dry slices to snack on later. For many, these simple pleasures became cherished childhood memories.
For those who grew up with it, the Mahraji apple is not just another fruit. It represents a connection to home, to tradition, and to the quiet rhythm of the seasons. While it may no longer be the go-to apple for most, its legacy continues to live on in the hearts of those who remember it. While it may no longer fill the orchards, but it will always be part of the story and hold a special place in the memories of those who knew it best.

The Downfall

Despite its medicinal value, the Mahraji apple is at risk of extinction. Once known as the “King of Winter Fruits” in Kashmir because of its long shelf life, it is now considered an alternative fruit. A decade ago, farmers used to have at least five Mahraji plants in an orchard to help with pollination, but it is now rarely seen in orchards.
However, newer apple varieties arrive earlier in the season, giving them a competitive edge. In comparison, the Mahraji apple’s unpredictable harvest cycle, with its “on” and “off” years, made it more difficult for growers to rely on it consistently. The Mahraji tree tends to produce a lot of fruit one year and very little the next, usually because of natural cycles, weather conditions, or a lack of nutrients, making its output uncertain and inconsistent. Slowly, it faded into the background, replaced by more profitable and predictable varieties.

“The Mahraji apple is endangered due to several factors. The costs associated with its cultivation and distribution often exceed the profits. For example, a box of A-grade Mahraji apples is priced between INR 300 and 350, while the total expenses from fertilisers to transportation can reach INR 400, placing significant financial strain on growers,” says Raja Mohammad Akbar Dar, President of the Fruit Growers and Dealers Union at Mawer Qalamabad in Kupwara district of Kashmir.

“The Mahraji apple has experienced a major decline over the past seven years, primarily due to a lack of market demand. Many farmers have refrained from harvesting their apples because of high labour and packing costs. As a result, growers have begun shifting their focus to other apple varieties. Although the market was favourable this year, with prices reaching up to INR 800 per box, the fruit itself was simply not available,” Dar tells Media India Group.

Professor Khalid Mushtaq, of the Department of Fruit Sciences at SKAUST Kashmir, explained that Mahraji apples have seen a significant decline over the past several years. He attributed this mainly to shifting consumer preferences, with both local and international markets increasingly favouring sweeter fruits.
Modern farming methods have contributed to the downfall of the Mahraji apple. Traditional orchards are being replaced by high-density farming, which focuses on sweeter varieties like Gala and Red Delicious. These apples are not only popular for their taste but also for their genetic advantages, says Mushtaq.

“Gala apples are partially self-fertile, and when cross-pollinated with other apple varieties, their yield increases, making them more dominant over varieties like Mahraji. The advantage of Gala apples is that they enter the market earlier, in the month of August,” he added.
He also pointed out that another major challenge is the reduced market demand, coupled with high production costs. While the northern district of Baramulla is still growing Mahraji apples, the fruit is declining across the region due to low market demand. “We have developed programmes to promote and preserve it, as the fruit has become increasingly scarce,” Mushtaq tells Media India Group.

“The university is actively working on promoting and preserving indigenous apple varieties, particularly Amri, which is the only indigenous variety in Kashmir. This initiative is in response to the dominance of imported varieties, especially Red Delicious, which has significantly impacted local crops. Red Delicious, initially introduced by the Stokes family in Himachal Pradesh in the 1970s, spread rapidly across Kashmir, eventually occupying 98 pc of the region’s apple orchards. The introduction of Gala, a newer variety, has not posed a significant threat, as it occupies less than 1 pc of the total apple-growing area in the region,” Says, Dr Ashiq H Pandit Professor Division of Fruit Science Shalimar.

“ The shift from indigenous apples like Maharaji, a variety known as White Dotted Red, to imported varieties like Red Delicious has led to a monoculture of Red Delicious, diminishing the diversity of apple crops in Kashmir. While varieties change over time, the economic focus on high-yielding, profitable crops has driven this shift. Farmers are more inclined to choose varieties that offer the highest financial returns, leading them to favour Red Delicious due to its market demand and storage ability. However, this shift has also brought challenges, such as price fluctuations during the peak season when a glut of Red Delicious floods the market. Despite these shifts, the university’s efforts aim to safeguard Kashmir’s indigenous apple varieties by promoting Amri and other local cultivars to ensure sustainability and biodiversity in the region’s apple industry,” Pandit, tells Media India Group.

“In response to these challenges, SKUAST Kashmir, under my leadership, has launched pilot projects aimed at reviving traditional niche crops, including cereals, spices, fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants. These initiatives are designed to preserve biodiversity and serve as a genetic resource for crop improvement, ultimately enhancing production, nutritional security, and climate resilience. We are committed to promoting the conservation and sustainable use of our rich agricultural heritage, and we believe that the Mahraji apple is an important part of this effort,” Kanth tells Media India Group.