JKRTC trucks roped in to speed export of Kashmir fruit to national markets

Srinagar, Sep 21: With the apple harvest season at its peak, the Jammu and Kashmir government has pressed into service a fleet of Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) trucks to ensure timely movement of fruit consignments from the Valley to markets across India. Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, IT, Transport, Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, flagged off a convoy of fruit-laden JKRTC trucks here today.

RTO Kashmir Qazi Irfan, General Managers of JKRTC and other senior officers were present during the ceremony.

Sharma underlined that horticulture remains the backbone of the Union Territory’s economy, providing livelihood to lakhs of families. He said timely dispatch of apples and other fruit is critical for securing competitive prices for growers and maintaining the brand value of Kashmir produce in national markets.

“The government is fully committed to supporting our farmers and traders so that their hard work is rewarded. JKRTC and the Transport Department, in close coordination with other agencies, are ensuring hassle-free movement of trucks, reducing travel delays, and safeguarding perishable produce from losses,” Sharma said.

He informed that deployment of additional trucks is being monitored in real time to meet rising demand from mandis in Shopian, Anantnag, Sopore and Pulwama as the season progresses. Traffic management on key highways and feeder routes is also being streamlined to facilitate the uninterrupted movement of fruit consignments to outside states.

Reassuring growers and traders, Sharma said the government will extend every possible support to make this fruit season a success for J&K’s horticulture sector. “Our priority is to see that the farmers’ produce reaches markets in time, without exploitation, and that Kashmir’s fruit continues to command respect in national markets,” he added.

So far, 158 JKRTC trucks, including trawlers, have been deployed in major fruit mandis across South and North Kashmir to transport produce to various states. The initiative follows the government’s policy of providing transport support to fruit growers, and is being carried out under the directions of the Chief Minister, who has stressed on maximum facilitation for growers and traders during the peak harvest period.