Continuous lockdown in J&K is having a big impact on apple farming in the Valley. With the harvesting season just round the corner,Kashmiri apple growers are a worried lot.

The twin districts of Shopian and Kulgam in south Kashmirare the major apple growing centres where people are anxious and not sure as to what lies in store. Ghulam Mohammad looks at the apples in his orchard with asense of uncertainty. The apples will ripe in a week''s time, but his labour force is gone after the mass exodus of non-Kashmiris from the Valley following government advisory. He says he is staring at a massive loss this year.

"It looks very unlikely that we will be able to meetour target under the prevailing conditions. I am not a stone pelter... What ismy fault, why am I made to suffer," asked Muzaffar Ahmad, an apple growerin Anantnag in south Kashmir, voicing similar concerns. The impact of theshutdown is growing by the day, leaving the apple growers worried.

The people in Hallmolla area of Anantnag, famous formanufacturing cricket bats, echoedsimilar sentiments. The bat makers say thereare no takers for the willows at the moment.

"Our business is totally dependent on tourists andyatris. With almost zero visitors in Kashmir now, our business has plunged toalmost zero. Our labourers have gone, while untimely rains have made thingsworse for us," said Gul Javed, a bat manufacturer.