Highway closure leaves truckloads of perishable Kashmiri pears stranded

Shopian, Aug 28: Hundreds of trucks laden with pears are stranded at fruit mandis across Kashmir after inclement weather conditions forced the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, sparking fears among growers and traders that the perishable produce could rot if the disruption drags on.

The highway, the only major road link connecting Kashmir to the rest of India, has been shut since Tuesday due to heavy rains and mudslides at various locations along the road.

“This is the peak harvesting season. Every dozens of trucks carrying pears leave the Valley for outstation wholesale markets,” said Mohammad Ashraf Wani, president Fruit Mandi Shopian. “Now the trucks are stranded. If the highway does not open soon, the fruit will perish. Pears have a very short shelf life compared to apples.”, added Ashraf.

Farmers said the closure has hit them at a critical time when the pear crop, which is harvested in first and second week of August, is being rushed to markets. Unlike apples that can be stored at room temperature for weeks, pears ripen quickly and start losing quality within days.

“We depend on this season for our livelihood. If the pears rot, it will be a direct loss for thousands of families. Prices may also crash in local mandis because there is no outlet for exports.” said a cultivator. Officials estimate that Kashmir sends nearly 85,000 to 90,000 metric tonnes of pears outside the region every year, with major markets in Delhi, Maharashtra and other places. The fruit contributes significantly to rural incomes across Jammu and Kashmir.

At different mandi, dozens of truck drivers waited anxiously for clearance to move. Some said the fruit had already been loaded a few days ago.

“The longer we wait, the worse it gets. Pears cannot survive in this heat,” said a non-local trucker. Growers have repeatedly demanded an alternative road link or better storage facilities in the Valley. “This is not the first time. Every year our produce suffers because of highway closures,” said Mohammad Ramzan, a fruit trader. He added that the introduction of freight train services and affordable, accessible controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage facilities could shield farmers from recurring losses.