Apple stocks dumped in ditches, as key highway remains closed for third week in Kashmir
Javeed Ahmad, 28, who lived in Kulgam’s Lakhri Pore on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, began to dig a pit to throw a 2,000 boxes of rotten apples for 10 days at the Qazigund checkpoint of the two trucks carrying them. Mr. Record is among the hundreds of local fruit traders who find themselves in deep financial difficulties due to the long -term closure of the highway for three weeks during the most intense harvest season.
At the beginning of this summer, Mr. Bay supervised the Pulwama Gardens for days to determine the best variety of apples for trade. “I’m not a fruit breeder, a fruit trader. I promised to pay 300 la per box and hoped to buy around 600 out of J & K. Now I have nothing but rotten apples. He is the only bakery of his family.
On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the sad scenes of fruit traders who discharge rotten apples from the valley sections appeared. In the fruit markets of Kulgam in Southern Kashmir and Sopore in Northern Kashmir, fruit breeders and merchants were seen while discharging rotten apples from trucks.
Shahid Dar, an apple breeder from Kulgam, said, uz We feed the apple trees with blood and sweat. We look closely at the infections to ensure that apple production is of quality and we are doing a few rounds of spraying to ensure that apple production is of quality. We all went wasted. ”
Hundreds of trucks stranded for the last two weeks can pass from the 290 km Srinagar-Jammu Motorway to unload stinking products in open gardens and fields, and the losses may pass several hundred croes. The department commissioner Kashmir established a committee to estimate the losses due to the closure of the highway damaged during heavy rain last month.
“For the first time, our apple products were stuck and left to decay on the roads. In 2016, we have seen different stages in 2016, including street agitation, but this time it never affected apple exports. In addition, most apple farmers do not have crop insurance.
J&B produces about 70% of the country’s apples and continues to be a major exporter. Approximately 35 Lakh family are associated with trade in the valley.
“The Indian government should take urgent steps to facilitate the access to the market.
Apple said that the Apple sector is not covered by Pradhan Mantric Bima Yojna (PMFBY), which was released in 2016. “There is an urgent need to re -promote the market intervention plan (MIS), so that excessive distribution can be used to use and use apples for fruit juice and jam manufacturing.
J & K’s Apple production remained at 20.40 lakh tons in 2023-24.
Authorities said that a 300 -meter patch in UDHampur proves that it is a great difficulty for the authorities. The region has witnessed landslides and land collapse in the last three weeks.
J & K Prime Minister Omar Abdullah faces criticism for not being able to address the situation from his party leaders. “The silence of the elected representatives will not be forgotten by people. The life line of the Kashmir economy was deliberately bored. Every year, during the harvest season, fruit trucks are stopped to production.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Ilıtija Müftü met J & K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and raised the issue of “long -term closure of the vital road connection, leaving hundreds of truck loads of apple product”. “The apple industry is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, but weak planning and administrative indifference breeders pushing the crisis every year, Mrs Madin Mufti said.
Meanwhile, CM Abdullah attended a high -level virtual meeting that Nitin Gadkari, the unity highway transportation and highways, to review the situation of the highway.
J & K Prime Minister Omar Abdullah holds a meeting on the improvement of the network scope and the expansion of telecom services in the region. | Photo loan: sudden via x/@cm_jnk
The Prime Minister said at the meeting, “Disease can wait. However, large vehicles, especially 4 axles and 5 axis trucks, can not be directed from the Babür Road. This is the only way for them and only a large number of trucks trapped on the side of Kashmir, this accumulated work is very important,” he said.
A government spokesman said the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s concerns will be discussed. Abdullah, in my initiative, “Mr. Gadkari, fruit-loaded trucks for the emergency movement and uninterrupted basic supply of the NH-44 to fully restore a meeting focused on the urgent steps. My government to minimize the difficulties of the commanders and farmers,” he said.
Published – 17 September 2025 02:34
