Blocked highway leaves Kashmir’s apple harvest rotting, 750 crore lost

Srinagar: Fruit markets across Kashmir remained closed on Monday as growers and traders protested against ongoing disruptions on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, leaving apples stranded during the peak harvest season.

Farmers estimated losses at 700–750 crore, with hundreds of trucks carrying produce stuck along the route.

“Every day we face heavy financial losses while our fruit sits on the highway,” said Zahoor Ahmad Rather, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Apple Farmers Federation.

Rather demanded compensation for the losses suffered by apple growers.

For more than three weeks, the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway has been partially shut due to landslides triggered by heavy rains.

Farmers and traders staged demonstrations in Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian, and other wholesale markets, demanding a full reopening of the route.

Rather said that hundreds of apple-laden trucks remain stranded on the highway. “The fruit has rotted as it could not reach mandis on time, causing huge losses to farmers,” he added.

Jammu and Kashmir produce 20–22 lakh metric tons of apples every year, over 75% of India’s output, supporting more than 30 lakh people directly or indirectly.