Srinagar, Aug 29 (KNO): The recent devastating flood situation in Jammu & Kashmir has turned into a disaster, wreaking havoc on lives, infrastructure, and the Union Territory’s most vital sector—horticulture.
While Jammu region bore the brunt of human casualties and large-scale damage, the Kashmir Valley too has suffered partial devastation, particularly with the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH44), the only all-weather road that connects the Valley with the rest of the country.
The blockade of NH44 has left hundreds of fruit-laden trucks stranded, sparking panic among fruit growers and dealers.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Bashir Ahmad Basheer, Chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union said these vehicles, carrying fresh consignments of Bagogosha (pear), Galamast, Red Ghala apples, and other early-season varieties, have been stuck for days at multiple damaged stretches of the highway.
"Fruit markets across the Valley are overflowing with unsold produce, with growers warning that the delay could turn their crops into waste." he said.
“Every hour of delay means huge financial loss. These are perishable fruits—if they don’t reach markets on time, they rot,” said Abdul Rashid, a fruit grower from Shopian. “We are staring at a disaster as our produce is lying in orchards and mandis, with no way to send them out.”
Although authorities have permitted the movement of six-wheel vehicles on the Mughal Road, growers insist that this measure is inadequate.
Basheer said the perishable fruit consignments require 6/10 tyre heavy trucks for safe and bulk transportation as smaller carriers not only fail to meet the volume requirements but also increase costs and transit risks.
“Allowing small trucks is not a solution. Our produce is in bulk, and only large vehicles can transport them efficiently. Otherwise, the loss will be catastrophic,” he said.
This year’s bumper fruit harvest in Himachal Pradesh has already driven down fruit prices across Indian markets. With Valley produce stuck in mandis and on highways, growers fear they will be forced to sell at throwaway rates, compounding their misery.
“We are competing with Himachal fruit in the same markets. If our supplies don’t reach on time, we will have no buyers left. This is nothing short of an economic tragedy for us,” said Ghulam Nabi, a grower from Anantnag.
The horticulture industry is the backbone of J&K’s economy, with more than 7 lakh families directly or indirectly dependent on fruit cultivation, trade, and allied services. The valley, often described as the “Fruit Bowl of Northern India”, produces apples, pears, cherries, walnuts, and other varieties that form a major share of its economy.
If immediate measures are not taken, growers warn that the losses will run into hundreds of crores, hitting both the farming community and the UT’s revenue.
In light of the crisis, fruit growers have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and the Chief Minister to ensure movement of stranded fruit-laden trucks on NH44 at the earliest and allow round-the-clock movement of heavy trucks (6/10 tyre type) on Mughal Road as a temporary but effective alternative.
Unless urgent steps are taken, Kashmir’s fruit industry—already under pressure from falling prices and adverse weather in past years—faces a devastating season, Basheer added—(KNO)