FIRDOUS AHMAD
SRINAGAR, Aug 31: The Jammu and Kashmir Apple Farmers Federation has expressed serious concern over the continuous blockade of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway following the recent spell of inclement weather, warning that the disruption is causing severe losses to the region’s apple growers.
According to the Federation, hundreds of fruit-laden trucks remain stranded along the highway, carrying ripened apple varieties that are at risk of rotting before they reach markets across the country and abroad.
Federation President Zahoor Ahmad Rather said the situation is dire as orchardists depend on timely transportation to safeguard both the quality and value of their produce.
“The highway blockade has left our fruit-laden trucks stranded for days, and the apples are beginning to rot inside the vehicles,” Rather said. “Apple is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, and every day of delay means huge financial losses for growers who rely on timely market access.”
He urged the authorities to take immediate steps to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted movement of apple trucks. “We appeal to the administration to prioritize fruit trucks once the highway reopens so that the hard work of orchardists does not go to waste,” he added.
Abdul Rashid Zainpora, General Secretary of the Federation, endorsed the appeal and called upon the government to put in place a mechanism that safeguards perishable fruit crops from such recurring transport disruptions.
Apple farming contributes significantly to Kashmir’s economy, and growers say they cannot afford repeated losses caused by highway closures during the peak harvest season.
