Kashmir apple growers as trucks remain stranded on Jammu highway
Grower, traders stage protest; mandis remain shut across Valley
Stacks of apple boxes lying at the fruit market that remains shut at Jablipora in Anantnag district on Monday. PTI
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Apple growers and traders across Kashmir Valley staged protests on Monday against the prolonged closure of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, accusing the government of inaction and warning that fruit produce worth thousands of crores is at risk of being ruined.
Fruit mandis across the Valley remained shut for the second consecutive day as a mark of protest. The highway—Kashmir’s only all-weather road link to the rest of India—has remained either completely or partially closed for much of the past four weeks due to damage caused by heavy rainfall.
Though the highway was reopened briefly last week, fruit growers say it has not been fully restored, leaving hundreds of apple-laden trucks stranded en route.
"We cannot express how helpless the growers and traders are right now," said Bashir Ahmed, chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-Cum-Dealers Union. He claimed that over 1,000 trucks are currently stranded on the highway.
Apple harvesting in Kashmir begins in August, with the peak season stretching through September and October. During this period, about 1,500 trucks carrying apples leave the Valley each day for various parts of the country.
Ahmed said the growers are suffering at multiple levels. “Apples are dropping from trees in the orchards because it’s harvest time. In the mandis, apples are stranded due to truck shortages. And the ones on the highway are rotting due to long delays,” he explained.
He added that the entire horticulture industry is in crisis, estimating the current losses to be over Rs 1,000 crore.
A delegation from the fruit industry met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday. According to an official statement, Sinha assured them that appropriate measures were being taken and that men and machinery had been deployed to fully restore the highway. He also said stranded trucks carrying fruit would be cleared on priority.
Despite the government’s assurances, frustration remains high. On Monday, over a dozen mandis remained shut, Ahmed confirmed. “We want the government to act immediately. The mandis will resume operations from Tuesday,” he said.
Several political leaders also expressed concern over the issue. People’s Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone posted on X: “The apples destined for the rest of the country are in a state of rot. Massive losses for the apple growers. I am sure there must be some remedial measures. Inclement weather is not the government’s fault. But sitting like a mute spectator and doing nothing is criminal.”
Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also voiced his concern, saying he was “deeply pained by the plight of the protesting fruit growers and orchardists—the backbone of Kashmir’s economy—sustaining thousands of families.”
“Fruit-laden trucks are rotting for days on the highway with no right of passage. The government’s apathy, pushing a year’s hard work to ruin, is shameful,” he added. “I urge the authorities to immediately ensure unhindered passage of trucks to prevent further losses and mental agony for the growers.”
Concrete steps within 24 hours: CM
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he spoke to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding the situation along NH 44.
“The frustration of fruit growers is understandable. They have been very patient for the first few days but watching their hard work rot because @nhidcl (National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited) is unable to stabilise the highway, their patience has worn thin & that is totally understandable,” Omar said.
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He added, “Some concrete steps will be taken within the next 24 hours to address this problem but I will wait for that to happen before I say any more about the proposed plan of action.”
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