Archive · 27 Sep 2025
Kashmir Apple Growers Face Significant Losses Due to Road Closures
Imagine you're a farmer in Kashmir, and you grow delicious apples.
You spend all year taking care of the trees and waiting for the harvest.
But this year, the road that gets your apples to the market is closed because of damage.
This means the apples can't be delivered, and they start to rot.
Without a way to sell the apples, farmers are losing a lot of money, and some might not even earn back what they spent.
It's a big problem because many families depend on apple farming to make a living.
The government is trying to help, but it's not enough to prevent the losses.
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway closure is preventing transport of the apple harvest.
Apple growers are seeing their crops rot, leading to significant financial losses.
The industry has already lost over ₹1,000 crore, threatening thousands of livelihoods.
Limited cold storage facilities and alternative transport options are insufficient to mitigate the crisis.
Authorities are claiming that fresh fruit is moving out of the Valley, but growers are skeptical.
- Who
- Apple growers in Kashmir
- What
- Are facing significant financial losses due to the inability to transport their harvest.
- When
- During the apple harvest season (September) due to road closures.
- Where
- Kashmir, particularly the districts of Anantnag and Shopian.
- Why
- The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway closure is preventing transport of the apple harvest to markets.
- Main Issue
- Prolonged closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway
- Kashmir Apple Production
- Accounts for approximately 80% of India's apples
- Losses to the Industry
- Over ₹1,000 crore and rising
- Cold Storage Capacity
- Only 85 units with 341,000 metric tonnes capacity
- Highway Length
- 270 km
- Freight charges increase
- From ₹70 per 16kg box to ₹250