Sweet Fruit, Bitter Fall

The apple orchards of Kashmir have long been the pride of the Valley glowing with promise every autumn, sustaining millions of lives, and reflecting generations of hard work and hope. Each year, as harud, the harvest season, bathes the hillsides in gold, farmers await the fruit of their labor. But this year, joy turned into despair. What was expected to be a season of plenty has become one of pain. Apples that were meant to reach markets across the country now rot in stranded trucks. For thousands of growers, months of toil have been undone not by negligence, but by uncontrollable forces: ceaseless rains, damaged roads, and collapsing prices. The loss goes beyond money it cuts deep into the very soul of the Valley’s agrarian life.

Kashmir accounts for nearly 80% of India’s apple production, a sector worth around ₹12,000 crore annually. It sustains millions, including orchard owners, laborers, packers, transporters, traders, and vendors. Yet this year, countless families are staring at ruin. Relentless monsoon rains, frequent landslides, and flash floods have battered the Srinagar Jammu National Highway the Valley’s only major lifeline for fruit exports. Since late August, traffic closures have stretched for days and even weeks. Truckloads of apples have remained stuck on the route for more than 20 days, during which much of the produce has perished.

With supply lines blocked, freight rates have surged, and market prices have plummeted. Crates that once sold for ₹1,200–₹1,400 now fetch barely ₹500–₹800 — sometimes even less. Many growers have lost more than half of their expected income. One farmer in Baramulla, who turned down a decent early offer hoping for higher returns, eventually sold his harvest at half the price after days of delay and decay. Adding to their troubles, the cost of inputs has skyrocketed. Packaging cartons that earlier cost ₹40 now sell for about ₹200. Transport expenses have tripled. And with delivery delays, the perishable fruit deteriorates further turning expected profits into crushing debt. The ordeal doesn’t end with falling prices. Overloaded mandis refuse new consignments or offer throwaway rates for damaged fruit. Cold storage facilities are woefully inadequate; whatever exists is already filled to capacity. Countless boxes can’t even be moved within the Valley, leaving markets and warehouses overflowing with rotting produce.

Nature, too, has dealt a harsh blow. In South Kashmir, floods have drowned orchards, uprooted trees, and spoiled fruit still hanging on branches. Erratic weather, untimely rains, and hailstorms have worsened the fruit quality, forcing buyers to downgrade apples for bruises and discoloration. Apples once considered premium now sell as rejects. The economic damage runs into thousands of crores, but the consequences go far beyond immediate losses. The money invested in fertilizers, pesticides, and labor has been wasted. Farmers will struggle to repay loans. Orchards need repair and rejuvenation. The morale of growers has plummeted; many may consider leaving the trade. Rural jobs are disappearing. The ripple effects could alter the entire agrarian fabric of Kashmir.

Government response so far has been modest. The introduction of a special rail service from Budgam to Delhi is a step forward but hardly a solution. Cold chain infrastructure remains inadequate and far from major production zones. Alternate routes like the Mughal Road are unsuitable for heavy transport under current conditions. Markets remain saturated, and relief schemes have made little visible impact. This crisis calls for urgent and long-term action.

First, the Srinagar–Jammu highway must be rebuilt for durability with proper drainage, slope stabilization, landslide prevention, and real-time alerts to avoid complete shutdowns during harvest time.

Second, dependable alternate transport corridors should be developed, ensuring that Kashmir isn’t cut off whenever one road fails. Third, cold storage and fruit processing facilities must be established near orchards so farmers can preserve quality and avoid the risks of delayed transport. Fourth, farmers must be protected through insurance, subsidies, and fair market mechanisms including compensation for damaged produce and the introduction of a minimum support price for apples. Fifth, the Valley’s economy must diversify both in crops and income sources to reduce dependency on a single vulnerable commodity.

Kashmiri apples remain unmatched in taste and quality, nurtured by generations of skill and care. The farmers who grow them are resilient, but resilience alone cannot withstand systemic neglect. They need infrastructure, supportive policies, and timely government intervention. If Kashmir’s apples are to continue being its pride, this crisis must mark a turning point. The blossoms of spring, the toil of summer, and the harvest of autumn all deserve better than despair. They deserve protection, planning, and respect. Because when the apple industry collapses, it’s not just fruit that is lost it’s the livelihood, identity, and heartbeat of an entire Valley. Reform, therefore, is not optional it is essential.