J&K’s flood crisis has crippled  horticulture industry; we fear huge losses: Fruit Growers’ Union

Srinagar: The devastating floods that hit Jammu & Kashmir recently, causing heavy damage in Jammu region and parts of Kashmir Valley, have now severely crippled the horticulture industry, sparking fears of massive losses among fruit growers and dealers.

According to the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, hundreds of fruit-laden trucks carrying Babaghosha (pear), Galamast, Red Ghala apples and other early varieties remain stranded on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH44), which has been blocked for several days due to multiple damages.

The Valley’s fruit mandis are reportedly packed with consignments of fresh fruits awaiting transportation to markets outside J&K. “Large quantities of perishable fruits are also lying in orchards, and with the highway still closed, growers fear the produce may rot,” said Basheer Ahmad Basheer, Chairman of the Union and President of the New Kashmir Fruit Association.

Although authorities have allowed the movement of six-wheel vehicles via the Mughal Road as an alternative route, growers argue that such vehicles are unsuitable for transporting perishable fruits like apples and pears. “There is a need for 6/10 tyre trucks to be operated round the clock on Mughal Road to ensure timely transportation,” Basheer added.

The crisis comes at a time when fruit growers in Himachal Pradesh have harvested a bumper apple crop, which has already pushed down market rates, further deepening the concerns of Kashmiri growers.

The fruit industry in J&K, often described as the “backbone” of the Union Territory’s economy, supports over seven lakh families directly or indirectly. The Kashmir Valley is popularly known as the “Fruit Bowl of Northern India” for its diverse and high-quality produce.

Under the current circumstances, the Fruit Growers Union has appealed to the administration and the Chief Minister to take urgent steps to:

1. Allow stranded fruit trucks on NH44 to move forward on priority.

2. Permit 6/10 tyre trucks on Mughal Road round the clock to facilitate smooth transportation of perishable fruits.

“The horticulture sector is the lifeline of J&K’s economy, and timely intervention is crucial to prevent devastating losses to growers and dealers,” Basheer said.