Kashmir Apple Growers Seek Green Corridor on NH-44 to Prevent Harvest Losses
Kashmir Apple Growers Demand
SRINAGAR: As Kashmir enters the early stages of its autumn apple harvest (Harud), fruit growers and trade organisations have urged the Jammu and Kashmir administration and traffic authorities to give priority to trucks carrying fresh apples on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH-44). Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The appeal comes amid fears that repeated highway closures could disrupt the movement of perishable fruit and cause major financial losses to growers already recovering from last year’s transport crisis.
Growers Fear Repeat of Last Year’s Losses
Fruit traders said many orchard owners are still struggling to recover from the severe highway disruptions experienced during the previous harvest season.
Heavy rainfall and landslides along the Ramban–Banihal stretch reportedly kept NH-44 blocked for nearly three weeks, leaving thousands of trucks carrying fresh apples stranded on the highway.
According to trade representatives, the delays caused significant damage to the fruit and resulted in estimated losses of ₹1,000 crore to ₹2,000 crore across the horticulture sector.
A representative of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union said apples are highly perishable, and even a few days of delay can sharply reduce their market value.
Trade Bodies Seek Dedicated Green Corridor
To prevent similar disruptions this year, fruit growers and trade bodies have requested several measures from the administration.
Priority Movement for Apple Trucks
They have called for dedicated green corridors or fixed traffic windows that would allow trucks carrying apples and other perishable horticultural produce to travel without unnecessary delays towards Jammu and markets across northern India.
Control Rising Freight Charges
Growers also urged the government to regulate freight rates during the harvest season.
According to traders, transport charges often rise sharply whenever the highway is disrupted, placing an additional financial burden on orchard owners.
Faster Landslide Clearance
Trade bodies further requested the deployment of specialised quick-response teams along landslide-prone areas between Banihal and Ramban to restore traffic as quickly as possible whenever roadblocks occur.
Horticulture Remains Kashmir’s Economic Backbone
The horticulture industry is one of Jammu and Kashmir’s largest economic sectors, generating more than ₹10,000 crore annually and supporting the livelihoods of over three million people.
Kashmir is also a major apple-producing region, contributing around 75% of India’s total apple production, making uninterrupted transport essential for both growers and national fruit markets.
Authorities Assure Support
According to trade representatives, the administration has assured growers that traffic management plans will prioritise the movement of agricultural freight during the peak harvesting season.
Growers hope these measures will help ensure that fresh fruit reaches markets on time, protecting both quality and farmers’ incomes.
