Srinagar, Oct 29: Butter has become increasingly difficult to find in markets across Kashmir, with consumers in Srinagar reporting the unavailability of popular brands and online grocery platforms and departmental stores confirming supply shortages.
From household kitchens to neighbourhood grocery shops, the shortage has left consumers searching for alternatives that do not match their preferences, disrupting everyday breakfast routines and cooking habits.
Shagufta Bano, a resident of Chattabal in Srinagar, said she had been unable to find butter in local markets, including shops in the Lal Chowk area.
“My children don’t have breakfast if butter isn’t spread on girda,” she said, referring to the traditional Kashmiri bread. “I haven’t even made pasta, parathas or noodles in recent months.”
For some consumers, the shortage has also meant losing access to their preferred brands.
Tahira Ashraf, a resident of the Solina area of Srinagar, said her children preferred the taste of Mother Dairy butter but had been unable to find it in the market.
“My children like the taste of Mother Dairy butter, but now even that is unavailable,” she said.
The shortage has also been reported by online grocery retailer Srinagar Kart, which confirmed that butter was currently unavailable.
Dayton Department Store also said the situation extended beyond individual outlets, with butter supplies affected across Kashmir.
Meanwhile, a shopkeeper from Bemina alleged that distributors were linking the supply of butter to bulk purchases of other products, making it difficult for retailers to obtain the limited stock available.
“They said we would have to take crates of juice before they could provide us with parcels of butter,” the shopkeeper alleged.
A regional distributor in Kashmir attributed the shortage to inadequate supplies from the company, claiming that the quantities received were significantly lower than the orders placed.
“We place orders for 500 parcels, but receive only 50,” the distributor said.
He attributed the shortage to Amul exporting butter, while clarifying that he could not comment on behalf of the company. He also claimed that the supply problem was not limited to Kashmir but was being experienced across India.
The Himalayan Post attempted to contact the distributor against whom the shopkeeper made the allegations, but he could not be reached for comment.
The newspaper also contacted Amul’s Srinagar unit for its response to the reported shortage, but representatives declined to comment.
