Kashmir’s apple industry, the backbone of its economy and the livelihood source for hundreds of thousands of families, is facing an existential crisis today. The constant closure and traffic bottlenecks on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH44) have pushed farmers into huge losses, threatening to collapse a sector already burdened by rising costs, shrinking margins and debts.
Every autumn, orchardists put in year-round labour and heavy investments in crop management, packaging and transportation. Yet, when fruit-laden trucks remain stranded for days on end on NH44, the entire chain breaks down. Apples, unlike steel or cement, cannot wait indefinitely. Each hour of delay shrinks the shelf life, depreciates quality and ultimately shatters farmers’ earnings. This year, the situation has been especially grim: hundreds of trucks stuck, mandies overflowing with unsold fruit and prices plummeting as quality deteriorates.
What is most troubling is the apparent inability of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to plan for contingencies and maintain this critical highway. Despite collecting massive toll revenues, the highway remains vulnerable to recurring closures due to landslides, poor traffic management and delayed maintenance. Farmers are justified in asking: where does all the toll money go, if not to ensure the smooth functioning of the Valley’s only road artery?
The absence of a credible contingency plan, mainly rapid maintenace and restoration, exposes serious lapses in governance. The inefficiency not only undermines Kashmir’s economy but also erodes faith in institutions meant to safeguard national infrastructure.
If urgent measures are not taken, Kashmir’s apple industry risks an irreversible decline. The time for promises has passed; farmers now demand action. NHAI must step up with accountability, invest in robust maintenance and devise an emergency plan to ensure uninterrupted passage of perishable commodities. Anything less would be a betrayal of the Valley’s farmers and its economic future.
