Highways Blocked, Hopes Bruised: Kashmir’s Apple Lifeline Withers Under Political Heat and Rotting Reality
By: Javid Amin | 16 September 2025
Kashmir’s celebrated apple harvest, the backbone of its rural economy, is rotting on the roadside as the prolonged closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH-44) paralyzes trade. What began as a logistical disruption has now snowballed into an economic catastrophe and political storm, with accusations of negligence, discrimination, and even conspiracy echoing across the Valley.
Highway Blockade Sparks Economic and Political Uproar
The NH-44, Kashmir’s sole all-weather road link to the rest of India, has been closed repeatedly due to landslides and poor road management near Ramban. With thousands of apple-laden trucks stranded for days, crates worth crores are decaying before reaching mandis in Delhi, Punjab, and other markets.
“This isn’t a landslide problem—it’s an economic blockade,” said Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, Member of Parliament, speaking from the Fruit Mandi in Shopian. “Our trucks are being stopped, while those from Jammu are allowed into Srinagar. This is unjustified, discriminatory, and deliberate. If our produce continues to rot, growers will be forced to take to the streets.”
Ruhullah also pointedly questioned the larger picture:
“Our country claims to be a five trillion economy, yet Kashmir’s apples are rotting at the roadside. What does this say about fairness, about governance?”
Wholesale Mandis Shut Down in Protest
The Sopore and Shopian fruit mandis, Asia’s largest fruit hubs, have now shut down in protest. Growers, traders, and transporters are staging sit-ins, demanding:
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Immediate clearance of apple trucks
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Compensation for mounting losses
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Transparent, priority-based passage for perishable goods
“Our livelihoods are at stake. A year’s hard work is rotting in crates,” said Bashir Ahmad, an orchardist from Shopian. “The mandi is not just a market—it is the lifeline of 3 lakh families. Its silence is our scream.”
Political Leaders Allege Conspiracy
The crisis has become a political flashpoint. Several prominent leaders have blamed the administration and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for failing to act in time.
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Sajad Lone (JKPC Chief):
“It takes hundreds of crores in losses to wake up a wandering CM. Why was there no urgent coordination between NHAI and local authorities? Why were preventive measures not taken despite predictable landslides?” -
Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (CPI-M leader):
“Every year, Kashmir’s economy is brought to its knees by the same highway crisis. It is not incompetence anymore—it is indifference. The growers cannot be left at the mercy of landslides and bureaucrats.” -
Aga Ruhullah Mehdi (NC MP):
“The selective passage of trucks proves this is more than a natural disaster—it is discrimination. Our apples are treated as expendable, while construction material is cleared on priority.”
Collectively, these voices are painting a grim picture of systemic neglect—and, in some narratives, deliberate throttling of Kashmir’s economic arteries.
Economic Fallout: A Valley on the Brink
Kashmir’s horticulture sector is the largest private employer in the Valley, contributing thousands of crores to J&K’s economy. The apple industry alone accounts for:
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₹1,200 crore in direct losses this season (grower estimates)
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Over 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, much of which is now at risk
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3 lakh families dependent on orchards for survival
The fallout is cascading:
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Truckers stranded for weeks face fuel and food shortages
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Laborers in mandis and orchards are left without wages
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Cold storage facilities are overflowing and failing
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Export timelines to Gulf and metro markets are collapsing
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Local markets are destabilized—apples rot in crates while prices for essentials skyrocket
“This is not just about apples,” said a Sopore mandi trader. “This is about the entire Valley’s economy being held hostage.”
What Growers and Leaders Demand
With tempers rising, growers and political leaders are united on key demands:
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Dedicated Apple Corridors: Priority clearance of fruit trucks during harvest season
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Cold Storage Relief: Subsidized storage and transportation support
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Transparent Logistics: Accountability in highway management and truck clearance
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Compensation: Relief packages for orchardists who have lost entire harvests
Unless these measures are taken, growers warn of widespread protests across Kashmir.
Editorial Note: More Than a Traffic Jam
What Kashmir is witnessing is not just a highway disruption. It is a test of governance, fairness, and political will. The NH-44 blockade has revealed the fragility of Kashmir’s economy, its dependence on a single road, and the vulnerability of its people to bureaucratic apathy.
Apples in Kashmir are more than a crop—they are a symbol of prosperity, culture, and identity. Their decay is not just economic but also emotional, a reminder that without systemic reform, the Valley’s lifelines will continue to rot, season after season.
