Keep Kashmir’s fruit lifeline moving

Every fruit season in Kashmir brings with it both promise and uncertainty. While orchards yield a harvest that sustains the region’s economy, growers continue to battle challenges that extend far beyond the farm. This year, after weather-related damage from hailstorms and strong winds, another hurdle has emerged, i.e. the disruption of fruit transportation on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44), the Valley’s only dependable road link to markets across the country. The concerns raised by the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union deserve immediate attention. Fresh fruits are highly perishable commodities, and time is their greatest enemy. Delays of even a day can reduce quality, lower market prices and erode the earnings of growers who have already invested heavily in cultivation. When trucks that once reached markets within 24 hours now take three to four days, the economic consequences are inevitable. Horticulture is not merely another sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy but the backbone of rural livelihoods, generating thousands of crores in annual revenue and supporting more than seven lakh families. The constraints posed by road maintenance and the annual Amarnath Yatra are understandable. Both are important public priorities. However, efficient planning should ensure that one essential activity does not come at the expense of another. Traffic management must accommodate the seasonal urgency of fruit transportation through dedicated movement windows, better coordination among agencies and real-time communication with transporters. The repeated suggestion to divert traffic through the Mughal Road offers only limited relief, as the route lacks the capacity and infrastructure required for sustained movement of heavy fruit-laden vehicles. The long-term answer lies in strengthening NH-44, completing ongoing repairs on priority and developing reliable all-weather alternatives. Kashmir’s fruit industry cannot remain vulnerable to recurring logistical bottlenecks every harvesting season. Ensuring uninterrupted connectivity is not simply a transport issue but an economic necessity that safeguards livelihoods, strengthens farmer confidence and protects one of Jammu and Kashmir’s most valuable sectors.