Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Sep 17 : The prolonged closure of National Highway (NH-44), the sole surface link connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country, has inflicted heavy losses on the region’s fruit farmers. But who bears responsibility for the vulnerabilities of this vital industry?
Is it the farmers who use excessive pesticides to harvest and market apples prematurely? Or is it the heads of fruit mandis across Kashmir who, despite being aware of the practice, permit the trade of these substandard early-season apples?
Speaking to The Web Story/The Varmul Post, many farmers from northern Kashmir are engaging in introspection. “We ourselves are responsible. If our fruit industry is suffering today, we all have a hand in it. Over the last few years, by using excessive pesticides and trying to send apples to the market early, we have not only compromised the quality but are also destroying our own orchards,” said Bilal Ahmad, a farmer from Zaingeer, Sopore.
Bilal stated that fifteen years ago, the rates were better and the quality of the apples was superior. “In every way, we are responsible. Now, when a disaster strikes, we all cry out. But who brought this disaster upon us? We are all responsible for this crisis and for degrading the value of the apple industry.”
Rameez Ahmad, another farmer, said, “No doubt, we farmers are facing immense losses, and the reason is not only the highway closure. The highway closure is not a new thing; it has been a recurring issue for a long time. However, amid claims of development, the government must establish an alternative route so that during the apple harvesting season, farmers are not affected the way we are now.”
“It’s true that we are all blaming the government at this moment,” Rameez said, “but can we not question ourselves? How much have we devalued this industry? We have not only damaged our apple orchards day by day but also left no stone unturned in using excessive pesticides and sending apples to market early. Today, the result is evident: the apples couldn’t even last three days in the trucks properly. Their quality was completely ruined, and entire truckloads had to be dumped. Whose fault is it? The government’s? Or our own, for using excessive pesticides and not waiting for the right time to harvest?”
Echoing this sentiment, farmers from across Kashmir are asking themselves these difficult questions. They stated that instead of only questioning the government, they should scrutinize their own practices.
“Did we ever hesitate to use pesticides indiscriminately and send apples early? We made no concerted effort over the past 20 years to protect the apple industry. We only come to the forefront when a disaster strikes; the rest of the time, we forget how to advance this industry and how a farmer should apply quality pesticides to his orchards at the proper time. We all focus only on the immediate business, and the result is clear for everyone to see,” they said.
Amid growing public outrage in the Kashmir Valley over apple-laden trucks stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44), the Union Government stepped in to address the escalating crisis. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi to assess the situation.
“We are determined to restore this vital national highway to full capacity at the earliest, ensuring safety and convenience for all road users,” Gadkari stated in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
He added that NHAI teams are working tirelessly to keep the highway functional despite relentless rains and a major landslide. “A two-lane temporary diversion has been built, and traffic movement has resumed. Over a dozen excavators and more than 50 earthmovers are deployed round the clock for clearing and repairs,” he said.
Notably, farmers and fruit growers claim that losses are mounting day by day due to the highway’s closure. The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union, quoted by news agency KNO, has already estimated losses at over Rs 1,200 crore and fears the damage could be far worse.
“The loss could exceed Rs 5,000 crore, as lakhs of apple boxes are lying here in Kashmir’s mandis due to the lack of transportation. This could be the biggest loss the industry has ever faced,” growers at Kashmir fruit mandis said, appealing to the government for urgent intervention. “The authorities must ensure unhindered movement along the national highway,” they added. “We feel everyone is responsible for the crisis, be it the LG administration, local government, or even the associations.”
They said the blockade has also forced many orchardists to halt harvesting, as there is no transport available to move the produce. Growers and traders have previously accused the government of damaging the apple economy by restricting heavy vehicles and failing to manage traffic. “If immediate measures are not taken, lakhs of metric tons of apples will rot and the industry will collapse,” they added quoted news agency KNO.
The apple industry in the Kashmir Valley is one of the most important sources of income for thousands of farmers. However, a serious problem has threatened this industry for years: the unchecked use of pesticides.
Dr. Nazir, an agriculturalist, speaking to The Web Story/The Varmul Post, said many farmers in Kashmir use pesticides without knowing whether they are safe or harmful. They lack proper guidance on which pesticides to use and which ones to avoid. As a result, they often use excessive amounts of low-quality pesticides that not only harm the apple trees and reduce the fruit’s quality, but also make the apples unsafe for consumers.
He stated that one of the biggest concerns is that some pesticides contain harmful chemicals. If used without proper knowledge, they can damage not only the apples but also the soil and water. Over time, this can reduce the land’s fertility, making it difficult for farmers to grow healthy apples in the future. This is evident today in how the apples spoil within just three days, a symptom of the destruction that is now plaguing the already-suffering fruit industry.
Earlier this year, President, Sopore Fruit Mandi – Asia’s second-largest fruit market Fayaz Ahmed Malik (Kakaji) even announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for those providing crucial information about the sale of counterfeit fertilisers in the market. However when it comes to recieve same apples with excessive use of pesticides in the mandi there was no stop there was no hault for which result is in front of eyes how the same quality apples with excessive use of pesticides couldn’t even last 4 days in the trucks resulted in dumping.
Speaking to The Web Story / The Varmul Post, Bashir Ahmad Basheer, President of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union (KFGDU), addressed the critical issues facing the region’s apple industry.
While acknowledging that the excessive use of pesticides in certain districts is a serious concern, emphasized that it is not a widespread practice across the entire valley.
He stated that the most pressing and immediate challenge is the ongoing road closure crisis, which is causing severe disruptions.
He reported that the industry has already incurred losses amounting to crores of rupees, and these losses continue to mount daily. The road closures have severely hampered the industry’s overall functioning, affecting both growers and dealers.
Although some relief was observed today with a limited number of vehicles being allowed passage, Mr. Basheer stressed that this is an insufficient solution. He described the industry as navigating its most difficult period in recent memory.
The President said that, so far, there have only been claims about relief for affected farmers without any official announcement from the authorities. He earnestly appealed to the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor to intervene and support the industry during this critical time.
Meanwhile, chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday visited Udhampur to inspect the ongoing restoration work on the Jammu–Srinagar NH-44 and directed the concerned authorities to expedite the work and ensure smooth movement of traffic, particularly for fruit-laden trucks and essential supplies.
Earleir in the day, Agriculture Minister Javed Dar said that around 2,400 stranded fruit trucks have been allowed to move via Mughal Road and Ramban with
On losses suffered by fruit growers, he said that the government is actively pursuing a relief package for farmers and fruit growers affected by recent floods and cloudbursts.
He further stated that following the state government’s appeal to the Centre, a positive response is expected soon. “We are hopeful that the compensation process will be expedited so that affected farmers receive timely support,” the minister said.
