In frames | Relentless rain upsets Kashmir’s apple cart

HOrticulture, which is the basis of the Kashmir economy, has received a major blow in the 10,000 Crore industry in Jammu and Kashmir, which is directly or indirectly associated with this sector, and this year, this year.

Kashmir, known as “India Apple Bowl ,, produces the largest fruit in the country. The harvest season usually lasts from the end of August to October, when breeders are most intense and send products to markets and abroad markets.

This year tells a different story. Continuous rain, then unprecedented floods in the valley gardens. Later, landslides led to the closure of the only major national highway that connects Kashmir to the rest of the country.

Flood and flooding fruits were damaged in the trees and caused many apples to decay or decrease early. He is also afraid that long -term water can damage root systems and affect the long -term health of the trees.

Jammu and the highway beyond – the primary artery of removing agricultural products from the valley – was closed for about nine days. Thousands of trucks full of apples were stranded along the route and exacerbated the losses after the harvest. While switching to deteriorating goods, several boxes of spoiled, farmers and merchants further increased the financial burden. According to fruit traders, losses would be in the 500 Crore to 700 Crore area.

Following the closing of the highway, the Union Railway Minister announced his first property train from Budgam in Kashmir to the new Delhi since September 13. The first special fruit train will leave the valley with 23 hours to reach the destination. Fruit breeders began to install apples on 11 and 12 September.

While fruit traders welcomed this movement, they emphasize a much higher train frequency and the needs of an additional number of coaches, as they are only allocated eight at the moment.

The combined effect of crop damage and logistics difficulties threatens the livelihood of the families of farming and the local economy, which is based on apple exports.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Falling hope: A grower collects fruit that has fallen after long -term flooding in the gardens of the valley.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Pain Harvest: A apple breeder passes through a sunken garden in Ratnipora, in the Pulwama region of Southern Kashmir, 55 km from Srinagar.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Muddy season: fruit infected with mud from branches.

Photo: Imran Nissar

In danger: flood and flooding damage the fruits in the trees and cause many apples to decay or fall.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Some relief: A police check the apple boxes before loading a railway parcel van in Budgam Railway Station.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Stratey Products: Truck drivers and traders, floods trapped on the highway, separates rotten apples as they leave thousands of boxes.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Great Lost: Truck drivers exhibit rotten apples thrown along the Srinagar-Jammu National Motorway in Qazigund.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Fruit on movement: A apple truck, Indian railways, to help the product to reach the daily train services to help to reach a railway parcel van is waiting next to the minibus.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Distribution is waiting: Delhi’ye a daily parcel train service to the market service was a great relief for apple breeders. A parcel van can carry 23 tons of apple.