Asia’s Second-Largest Fruit Mundi Faces Decline Amid Basic Facility Failures, Illegal Trade
SUHAIL KHAN
SOPORE, Nov 01: Who is to be made accountable, and who cares? Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi, located in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, is in disarray, courtesy: Lack of essential facilities.
Transporters and fruit growers expressed their frustrations to Kashmir Despatch, stating that navigating the Sopore mandi has become increasingly difficult due to a severe lack of basic services. They highlighted a range of issues, including dust and water shortages, along with the absence of restrooms, which have made operations exceedingly challenging.
Ranjeet, a transporter from Punjab, told Kashmir Despatch, “We are now hesitant to do business at this fruit mandi due to its declining reputation, which adds to the difficulties experienced by those involved in local commerce.”
Pratab Singh, a long-time visitor to this mandi since 2008, lamented, “I have only faced hardships here due to the persistent absence of basic facilities. There has been no development, and the authorities seem indifferent to addressing these urgent issues, often exacerbating the struggles of local people.”
Local fruit grower Sadiq Ahmad said, “There is no electricity, no washrooms, and a constant lack of drinking water. It baffles me why the president and local authorities remain oblivious to these problems.” He also noted the unfortunate state of the only guesthouse at the mandi, which was initially intended for visitors but now lies abandoned and reportedly has become a center for illegal activities. “No one appears interested in resolving these issues or alleviating the suffering,” he added.
Sadiq warned that if conditions do not improve, local businesses will suffer greatly, and the so-called representatives—who seem to focus solely on their own interests—will be held accountable. He emphasized that this mandi not only supports thousands of livelihoods but also used to be a cornerstone of the economy in north Kashmir. “It’s disheartening to witness the current state of affairs,” he further added.
Another businessman, Qasim, compared the Sopore mandi to others that are much better equipped. “While there are fruit mandis with ample facilities that meet the needs of their users, this mandi, despite its status as Asia’s second largest, is in deplorable condition and lacks even the most basic amenities.”
Meanwhile, reports from various sources have indicated that this fruit mandi has morphed into an alleged hub for illegal activities, including drug and liquor sales, which have become commonplace.
Reacting to the issues, the president of fruit mandi Sopore, Fayaz Ahmad Malik, alias Kakaji, told Kashmir Despatch “Yes, the water crisis is a significant issue in this fruit mandi. However, to resolve this issue permanently, we have initiated a scheme that requires around 5 crore, and only a small amount of work is left. I hope it will be completed within 20 days.”
He stated that after this, the water crisis will be addressed permanently. Regarding the macadamization issue, Fayaz Ahmad Malik mentioned that 9 crore and 78 lakh have been sanctioned. However, the process was halted due to back-to-back codes of conduct for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections; otherwise, it would have been completed by now.
He added that we have around 8 crore in savings that will be utilized for the development of the mandi, but this is under government control. “For the past year, everything has been halted, and all the work we do here is funded out of our own pockets,” he stated.
Kakaji also commented on cleanliness, stating that tenders have already been issued. However, due to high traffic during this time, cleaning only takes place on Sundays. He noted that in the past 20 days, cleaning efforts have undoubtedly decreased. This is primarily because when goods are present, there is a lot of rush, and on Sundays, around 25 sweepers are engaged in cleaning.
Regarding the guest house issue, which has been closed for the past few years, the Fruit Mandi President said, “We have informed the government multiple times to either renovate it or build a new one. However, we are hopeful that the newly elected government, especially with the local Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar, will pay significant attention to this mandi, leading to its development and elevated status.”
The fruit industry is a crucial component of Kashmir’s economy, providing sustenance for a significant population. The region produces 1.2 million metric tons of fruit annually, with north Kashmir contributing 60% and the remainder coming from other parts of the valley.
There’s no doubt that north Kashmir is a central hub for fruit production, generating over Rs 1,500 crores in annual income. However, serious concerns arise regarding the deplorable conditions and lack of basic facilities that affect those involved in the industry.
Can these issues truly be addressed? Will the allegations be taken seriously? Can the fruit industry—so vital for the future of north Kashmir—be saved ?
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
