Horticulture is one of the main business activities in Kashmir that helps the economy here. A vast majority of population is affiliated with this trade. The sector has witnessed some ground breaking improvement during past some time with the introduction of new varieties that yield more crop than the traditional varieties. Though the people affiliated with this trade are facing several issues including the entry of apple from foreign countries and very less cold storage facilities, transportation of the fruit to different Mandis of the country has all along been a chronic issue. Uncalled for delays on Srinagar-Jammu national highway often results into losses to the fruit particularly the ones that have limited and short shelf-life.
In this regard, it is heartening to note that the UT administration has taken a call on the issue and the Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo has stressed on making a comprehensive plan for smooth movement of fruit-laden vehicles to further reduce the travel time for perishable items. He has asked the concerned for marking the fruit-laden trucks with specially designed stickers for identification and giving unhindered access to reach the Mandis outside so that the growers don’t suffer any losses. He told the officers to utilize alternative assets like Mughal Road and Jawahar Tunnel optimally to reduce the traffic congestion on NH-44 and directed to ensure oil tankers and other empty trucks moving towards Jammu should be directed to take towards Mughal road. He further directed that the fruit-trucks should have an option to make use of Jawahar tunnel in case there is an apprehension of delay via Qazigund tunnel.
Taking the issue of transportation of fruit seriously and thus trying to reduce the travel time is of great help to the fruit growers and thus has been hailed by all but the administration should also focus on other issues faced by the fruit growers. It goes without saying that Kashmir’s weather can be unpredictable, with late frosts, hailstorms, and erratic rainfall affecting fruit crops like apples, cherries, and pears. Sudden changes in weather patterns can lead to crop damage and yield losses. Administration should have a comprehensive policy for helping the fruit growers in case of adverse weather effects. Besides there is a significant lack of modern infrastructure for fruit growers in Kashmir, including cold storage facilities and processing units. This limits the ability of growers to store and transport their produce efficiently, leading to post-harvest losses and reduced profitability.