Apple Supply Hit as Key Kashmir Highway Remains Shut for Third Week

Quick Summary:

• Highway Closure Impact: A prolonged 3-week closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has caused substantial losses to apple growers and traders in J&K during peak harvest season. Rotten apples are being disposed of after trucks were stranded for weeks.
• Financial Losses: the highway closure has resulted in estimated losses amounting to hundreds of crores,impacting Kashmir’s apple industry which contributes 70% of India’s apple production and employs around 35 lakh families.
• Apple Trader’s Insight: Traders,like Javeed Ahmad Rather from Kulgam,faced financial distress as they were forced to dump unsellable produce.
• Government Response: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has formed a commitee to estimate damages. Suggestions include reintroducing the market Intervention Scheme (MIS) and crop insurance under PMFBY, which currently doesn’t cover apple growers.
• Political Reactions: CM Omar Abdullah is criticized for inadequate management; leaders like PDP’s Iltija Mufti demanded policy changes, while MP Syed Aga Ruhullah described truck stoppages as an “assault on growers.”
• Union Minister’s Meeting: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured expedited restoration efforts.The Chief Minister highlighted urgency in clearing backlog on NH-44 for economic recovery.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The plight of Kashmiri fruit traders highlights critical vulnerabilities in J&K’s agricultural supply chain infrastructure. With apples forming a cornerstone of Kashmir’s economy, disruptions like these amplify economic instability across affected families and allied industries. Long-term systemic issues-like lack of crop insurance under PMFBY or insufficient implementation of schemes such as MSP and MIS-reflect broader gaps that require urgent governmental action.

Politically,this crisis underscores administrative inefficiencies but also reveals deeper challenges linked to geographical risks (e.g., landslides) that impede essential trade routes annually during harvest season. Expedited highway repairs might bring immediate relief; though, enduring measures such as diversifying access routes (e.g., Mughal Road), better planning against natural calamities, and regulatory updates addressing price support could ensure resilience against future disruptions.

Restoring confidence among farmers through targeted interventions remains key as policymakers struggle with balancing infrastructure demands with immediate economic concerns tied directly to livelihoods throughout the valley.

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