Apple Industry – Kashmir Growers Seek Reliable Highway Access During Harvest Season
Apple Industry –Kashmir’s apple growers have renewed their appeal for uninterrupted transportation as repeated traffic disruptions on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway threaten the timely delivery of this season’s harvest. With harvesting underway, growers fear that transport delays could once again lead to substantial financial losses and affect fruit quality before it reaches major markets.
Growers Recall Last Year’s Heavy Financial Setback
The horticulture community remains concerned after facing losses exceeding ₹2,000 crore during the prolonged closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway last year. Farmers and traders say they cannot afford a repeat of that situation, especially when apples are being harvested and dispatched in increasing numbers. They have requested the authorities to ensure that trucks carrying fresh produce receive smooth passage so consignments reach buyers without unnecessary delays.
Highway Remains the Backbone of Apple Trade
Kashmir’s apple industry plays a vital role in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir, generating nearly ₹12,000 crore every year while providing livelihoods to lakhs of families. Most apple shipments travel through the 270-kilometre Srinagar-Jammu National Highway before reaching wholesale markets in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bengaluru and Chennai. Any disruption on this route directly affects the movement of produce and the earnings of growers.
According to Bashir Ahmad Basheer, President of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union, around 100 to 125 trucks loaded with apples currently leave the Valley every day. The number is expected to increase significantly as harvesting reaches its peak over the coming weeks.
Delayed Deliveries Affect Quality and Market Prices
Basheer said that several fruit-laden trucks were recently held up on the highway for nearly three days before being allowed to continue after repeated representations to the administration. Under normal conditions, apple consignments are expected to reach Delhi within 24 hours. However, the recent disruption extended travel time to more than four days.
Growers say apples are highly perishable, and every additional hour spent in transit increases the possibility of quality deterioration. Reduced freshness often translates into lower prices in wholesale markets, leaving farmers to bear the financial burden despite producing a healthy crop. Even short delays can reduce the commercial value of the fruit and affect overall returns during the marketing season.
Alternative Routes Present Practical Challenges
The ongoing one-way traffic arrangement on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway during the Amarnath Yatra has added to growers’ concerns, as they expect transportation delays to become more frequent when dispatch volumes rise.
Although the administration has suggested shifting apple transport through the Mughal Road, growers believe the proposal is difficult to implement. They point out that only trucks with six to ten tyres are currently permitted on that route, whereas apple consignments are generally transported in larger vehicles equipped with 12 to 16 tyres.
Basheer also noted that moving apples through freight trains is technically possible but involves repeated loading and unloading of fruit boxes, increasing handling costs and raising the risk of damage to the produce before it reaches destination markets.
Growers Request Immediate Administrative Support
Fruit growers and traders have urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to maintain uninterrupted movement of apple-laden trucks throughout the harvesting season. They believe timely transportation is essential to protect fruit quality, secure fair market prices and safeguard the livelihoods of thousands of farming families who depend on the apple industry.