By: Zahoor Ahmad Bhat (Former Director, Horticulture Department, Kashmir)
The frequent closure of the National Highway (NH-44) — the lifeline connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India — due to recurring landslides has become a grave concern for the fruit industry. At present, thousands of fruit-laden vehicles have been stranded on the highway for over a week.
The perishable nature of fresh produce such as apples, pears and plums makes the situation particularly dire. A significant portion of the highly valued high-density apple varieties, especially Gala, was en route to major mandis. Given their limited shelf life, much of this produce now risks rotting in boxes. Preliminary estimates suggest that cumulative losses may exceed ₹1,000 crore, delivering a severe blow to both growers and the regional economy.
This crisis underscores the urgent need for long-term solutions. The following measures could help mitigate recurring losses in the future:
1. Rapid Response to Landslides
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Deployment of additional machinery and workforce for swift clearance.
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Pre-positioning of modular, ready-to-use bridges in slide-prone areas to restore traffic quickly.
2. Strengthening Rail Connectivity
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Increase the number of goods trains during the harvesting season.
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Attach additional bogies to existing trains to handle peak loads efficiently.
3. Advancing Cold Storage Operations
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Ensure Controlled Atmosphere (C.A.) storage units become operational by August instead of October, aligning with early and mid-season harvests.
4. Subsidised Transit Insurance
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Introduce fruit truck insurance schemes at subsidised rates.
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Extend coverage to include losses arising from prolonged halts due to road closures.
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