Shopian's mega fruit mandi shuts amid transport crunch, soaring freight charges

Shopian, Sep 14: The Mega Fruit Mandi in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, usually abuzz with traders and growers at the height of apple harvest, wore a deserted look on Sunday after operations were suspended for two days due to an acute shortage of trucks.

Nearly two lakh cartons of apples lie stuck inside the mandi, raising fears of heavy losses as the harvest season peaks.

The suspension followed repeated disruptions on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, which has remained crippled for more than two weeks by landslides and partial reopenings. With traffic flow restricted, both six-tyre and ten-tyre trucks are in short supply.

“There are simply no trucks available,” said Mohammad Ashraf Wani, president of the Shopian Fruit Mandi.

“Growers have harvested and packed their produce, but we cannot move it out. That is why we decided to keep the mandi closed on September 14 and 15.”

The scarcity has sent freight charges skyrocketing. Wani said the fare for a six-tyre truck, usually between ₹50,000 and ₹55,000, has jumped to ₹1.75 lakh as transporters cash in on the crisis.

Apples are the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, accounting for nearly 75 percent of India’s total production and sustaining the livelihoods of over three million people. At peak harvest, Shopian’s mandi serves as a funnel for trucks headed to Delhi, Gujarat, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and beyond. But the Valley’s reliance on a single highway leaves the sector dangerously exposed.

On Sunday, instead of the usual bustle of traders and bargaining, the mandi’s alleys were stacked with cartons of apples while growers waited anxiously.

"Farmers are nervous. A week’s delay could wipe out profits entirely,” said Peer Shabir, a prominent grower and trader from Shopian. “The authorities must step in, not only by ensuring transport but also by keeping the highway open without interruption.”

For many farmers, the stakes are painfully high. “We wait the whole year for this season. If the crop doesn’t reach markets on time, prices collapse and buyers lose interest,” Shabir said. He added that most growers have already taken loans and advance payments from traders for fertilisers, pesticides, and packaging. “Without timely transport, the entire year’s effort will be wasted.”