Srinagar: The continued closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has thrown Kashmir’s apple industry into disarray, with farmers and traders facing massive losses as fruit-laden trucks remain stranded for days. The disruption in transportation during the peak harvest season has caused significant spoilage of apples, triggering panic among growers across both south and north Kashmir.
According to the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Union, over Rs 300 crore worth of produce has already been lost due to delays and poor handling. The union’s president said that the situation is evolving into a full-blown crisis, with farmers helplessly watching their perishable produce rot by the roadside or in storage.
Thousands of trucks loaded with apples remain stuck on the highway, particularly in Ramban and Udhampur districts, where a major landslide has cut off access. With no immediate solution in sight and limited rail transport alternatives, many growers have chosen to return home with damaged fruit, unable to bear further losses in transit.
“This is peak season. We work all year for these two months. The damage this year is not just economic, it’s emotional,” said a grower from Shopian district. Farmers claim this year’s crisis is worse than previous disruptions, and they feel abandoned by the administration.
Stakeholders are now urging the central government to intervene. They have appealed to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to ensure the swift restoration of highway access. Many have also called on the Railway Ministry to introduce special freight trains for apples from stations such as Budgam and Anantnag.
The highway is more than just a road; it is the lifeline of Kashmir’s apple economy, which contributes nearly 70 percent of India’s apple production. Without immediate logistical and administrative support, experts warn that the season’s losses could have repercussions stretching into the next year.
