By Parvez Butt

Srinagar, Aug 20 (ANI): The prevailing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir has marred festivities in the Kashmir Valley as pickle traders are incurring losses, even during the auspicious month of Ramadan.

The savoured delicacy has no buyers, forcing sellers to dispose huge quantities of pickles.

Different varieties of pickles are preferred in addition to the meal taken by devout Muslims fasting during the days of Ramadan.

Due to indefinite curfews and violent protests in the Kashmir valley, the marketplaces are often shut down, and many areas are heavily guarded by the security forces.

“Because of the tense situation prevailing here, the prices of pickles have seen a dip resulting in heavy losses. Earlier, pickles were in great demand but not this year. I used to sell 250 grams for 20 rupees but now it is sold for just 10 rupees. Due to fewer buyers the pickle is getting spoilt everyday. With the frequent strikes, we are not able to sell even 20-30 kilograms of pickles per day though we prepare one or two quintals (100-200 Kg) of it daily,” said Muhammad Ramzan, a pickle seller.

Costly varieties of pickles like chicken and fish, which were sold for as much as Rs 300 per kilogram a year ago, are now being sold off at far cheaper rates due to the reduced demand.

“We have over hundred varieties of pickles, including fish and chicken. Last year there was booming business but this year there is none. Everything is getting spoilt because there is no demand. We had to throw huge quantities of pickles, all varieties including carrot, cherry, strawberry, chicken and even fish. We incurred losses of over five-six lakhs,” Ghulam Qadir, a pickle dealer. (ANI)