Highway closure threatens apple, pear crop; growers seek goods train transport
Baramulla, Aug 30: The prolonged closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway, now in its fifth consecutive day, has pushed Kashmir’s fruit industry into crisis, with growers warning that both apples and pears are on the verge of rotting unless immediate alternative transport is arranged.
From Sopore Fruit Mandi—known as the largest fruit market in North India—to orchards spread across Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora, thousands of tonnes of perishable fruit remain stranded. More than 400 trucks, loaded primarily with early apple varieties such as Bagogosh Gala, Kisri, and Razakwari, are stuck at Sopore, while heaps of freshly harvested pears and apples lie in orchards waiting for transportation.
“This is a disaster for growers,” said Fayaz Ahmad Malik, president of the Fruit Growers Association, Sopore. “Apples and pears cannot wait for weeks; they have a limited shelf life. Every passing day without transportation means losses running into crores.”
Growers stressed that their livelihoods depend on timely movement of fruit to mandis outside the Valley. “Kashmir’s economy runs on horticulture. If our produce rots here, not only growers but also traders, transporters, and thousands of workers depending on this industry will be devastated,” said Muhammad Aslam, a grower from Sopore.
He added that the situation clearly calls for government intervention. “The government must operate goods trains on priority to ferry fruit out of the Valley. One goods train can replace hundreds of trucks. The recent trial run of a goods train to Anantnag shows it is possible—why is it not being used now when we need it the most?” Aslam asked.
Fruit growers are also urging authorities to open alternate routes like the Mughal Road to prevent further damage. “If Mughal Road is kept operational, at least some of the stranded produce can reach markets,” said Farooq Ahmad, a grower from Rafiabad.
They warned that unless immediate steps are taken, Kashmir’s apple and pear industry—valued at over Rs. 10,000 crore—will suffer irreversible losses this season. “The government must step in with urgent measures, otherwise farmers will be ruined,” growers said in a joint appeal.
