Farmers packing juicy strawberries after harvested inside their farm during ongoing lockdown to contain spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus, on the outskirts in Srinagar.

Strawberry is the first fruit that grows after six months of harsh winters in Kashmir and is supplied to various parts of north India including Delhi.

The farmers said there was good yield of strawberry crop this year, but due to closure of markets owing to Covid-19 lockdown, they fear of losses as they would not be able to transport the crop to outside Valley in view of coronavirus restrictions

“In view of harvest of strawberry and cherry crops Parimpora Mandi can open between 5 am to 11 am, only for loading, unloading, packaging and dispatching,” DC Srinagar said in the order. “There shall be no general public entry into the mandi. Curfew passes will be issued to concerned traders on the recommendations of the Area Marketing Officer Srinagar.