Srinagar, Oct 31 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday said that fruit growers and farmers faced disruptions in transporting produce due to the closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH-44) in September 2025 following heavy rains and landslides.
In a reply tabled in the Assembly to a question by MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone, the Horticulture Department, per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the movement of fruit-laden trucks was affected for several days, impacting the marketing of horticulture produce.
According to the government, about 50 percent of the produce is marketed locally in Kashmir Mandi network, while the rest is transported from orchards and warehouses outside the valley. “The Department is regulating the marketing of agriculture and horticulture produce in F&V markets of Kashmir division,” the reply stated.
To avoid such disruptions in the future, the department said alternative transport channels have been activated, including full operationalization of Mughal Road for fruit-laden vehicles, coordination with railway authorities and registered apple traders to ship produce via rail, dispatch of a significant quantity of apples using train services during the National Highway closure and tying up with JKSRTC to deal with truck shortages.
These measures, the department said, helped growers avoid major losses during the recent weather-triggered disruption.
The government assured that it continues to take steps to ensure hassle-free transportation of horticultural produce from the valley—(KNO)