Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Sep 13: Kashmir’s fruit growers, already battling falling apple prices and crop damage have been now facing the challenge of transportation of their produce. With the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway witnessing repeated closures and the Mughal Road allowing only six-tyre vehicles on alternate days, the orchardists are struggling to move their harvest to markets across India.
To keep their apples from perishing, growers are resorting to a patchwork system of transportation. They load their produce onto nearly small vehicles in south Kashmir, ferry it across the Mughal Road to Rajouri and then reload it onto a single truck bound for Delhi, Mumbai or other mandis.
“This is proving to be a nightmare for us,” said Abdul Rashid, an orchardist from Shopian. “Hiring small load carriers, then shifting the same fruit into a truck, means double expenditure and double handling. Not only does it raise costs, but the fruit also loses freshness by the time it reaches outside markets. Buyers immediately cut down the rate.”
The financial strain is palpable. Mushtaq Ahmad, a grower from Pulwama, explained, “Apple prices are already low this season due to massive fruit fall. Whatever little margin we had is now wiped out by transport hurdles. We are paying more for logistics than what we are getting in return from mandis.”
Many farmers fear that if such challenges persist, Kashmir’s horticulture — the backbone of its rural economy — will see a decline in future investment. “We depend on this crop for our survival,” said Ghulam Nabi from Kulgam. “But every year it’s the same story — weather, pests, or road closures. If the situation doesn’t improve, people will abandon orcharding.”
The horticulture sector in Kashmir contributes thousands of crores to the economy and sustains lakhs of families. Yet, transport has remained its most fragile link. With the current restrictions, traders warn of cascading losses.
“If alternate routes are not made viable, the entire chain will collapse,” said a fruit trader in Sopore. “We urge the administration to either permit bigger trucks on the Mughal Road every day or ensure smooth traffic on the Jammu highway. Without that, this season will be disastrous for us.”
As the harvest season peaks, the silence from officials has only deepened growers’ anxiety. For the orchardists, the fear is not just about this year’s sales, but about the future of a livelihood that has sustained generations.
Though the government has been making efforts by making train arrangements for the produce besides that vehicles have been allowed on national highway as well in past few days but it isn’t normal as of now and growers have been demanding better arrangements from the government.
