With the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway blocked for nearly a week, Kashmir’s fruit industry faces potential losses of Rs 200 crore, as perishable goods deteriorate along the route.
SRINAGAR: The ongoing closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway has left Kashmir’s fruit industry in dire straits, with growers warning of potential losses amounting to hundreds of crores. Truckloads of Bagogosha pears and Gala apples are reportedly rotting along the route, exacerbating the financial crisis for local producers.
Although the highway was partially reopened on Monday to facilitate the movement of stranded vehicles, the damage to the valley’s perishable goods has already been significant. Growers and traders are expressing deep concern over the situation, which has left Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi in Sopore looking desolate. Despite the mandi remaining open, trade activity has drastically slowed, with only a few six-tyre vehicles being loaded compared to the usual 100-plus trucks.
Fayaz Ahmed Malik, president of the Sopore Fruit Mandi, stated, “We are in a situation where the industry may face losses of around Rs 200 crore if the movement of trucks does not go smoothly.” He noted that the current crisis mirrors the disruptions experienced in 2022, which had severely impacted the sector.
Growers are also reporting a decline in prices, highlighting the case of the American apple variety, which previously sold for Rs 600 per box but is now fetching only Rs 400 to Rs 450. A group of concerned growers lamented, “If a truck worth Rs 15 lakh reaches the market, we would barely recover a lakh or two because of the damage.”
Authorities have allowed partial traffic movement on the highway, clearing stranded vehicles from Qazigund towards Jammu in phases. Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Union, confirmed this development but acknowledged that significant losses had already occurred. He noted, “The Bagogosha and Gala apples have suffered extensive damage,” while refraining from providing specific figures.
Despite the government’s recent decision to permit six-tyre fruit trucks to travel via the Mughal Road, merchants argue that this measure is inadequate. “The scale of transportation required cannot be managed with limited movement. Priority should be given to all fruit trucks so that losses can be minimized,” demanded affiliates of the mandi.
In light of the situation, the president of the Sopore mandi has advised growers against rushing to harvest their crops. He suggested that they wait until the highway is fully restored or consider storing their produce in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) facilities to preserve quality.
“We are in continuous touch with the authorities. Our appeal to growers is not to panic. Once the route reopens, markets will stabilize gradually,” the association stated.
Growers have reiterated their call for urgent government intervention to protect Kashmir’s fruit economy, warning that prolonged inaction could devastate thousands of families who depend on this vital sector.
Source: Original article