Pulwama, Jul 31: With the peak apple harvesting season approaching, orchardists and fruit traders across Kashmir have expressed serious concern over the condition and frequent disruptions on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), fearing a repeat of last year’s transport crisis that caused massive losses to the Valley’s horticulture sector.
Growers said that recent closures have revived memories of last year’s ordeal when thousands of fruit-laden trucks remained stranded for days, resulting in widespread damage to produce and huge financial losses.
Horticulture is regarded as the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, providing livelihood to lakhs of families directly and indirectly, making uninterrupted road connectivity crucial during the marketing season.
Growers said the success of the season depends not only on a good crop but also on timely transportation of apples to markets across the country, warning that even brief delays can affect fruit quality, reduce market prices, and increase transportation costs.
“We are still recovering from the losses suffered last year. If the same situation is repeated this season, people in Kashmir will die of starvation because horticulture is the only source of income for thousands of families,” said Irfan Ahmad, a trader at Fruit Mandi Shopian.
He urged both the Union Territory administration and the elected government to make special arrangements for smooth movement of fruit-laden trucks during the harvesting season. “Authorities can reserve one day every week for road maintenance if required, but on the remaining days, they must ensure hassle-free movement of apple trucks. Once the peak season begins, any unnecessary delay on the highway will directly affect growers and traders,” said Mohammad Abbas, another trader from Fruit Mandi Bijbehara.
He said transportation has become one of the biggest concerns for orchardists after months of hard work in the fields. “We spend the entire year taking care of our orchards and invest heavily in cultivation. If trucks remain stranded on the highway for days, all our efforts go in vain. Apples lose their freshness and buyers immediately lower the prices,” he said.
Fruit traders stressed that Kashmir apples are supplied to markets across India within a limited time window, and any disruption in logistics affects the entire supply chain. They appealed to authorities to prepare a dedicated traffic management plan before the harvesting season reaches its peak, ensuring that fruit-carrying vehicles receive priority passage on NH-44.
The growers said timely intervention will not only protect farmers from financial losses but also safeguard one of Jammu and Kashmir’s most important economic sectors, which supports lakhs of households across the Valley. They expressed hope that lessons from last year’s crisis would prompt authorities to take preventive measures well before the apple marketing season gathers momentum—(KNO)
