Tue Sep 16 21:04:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Kashmir Apple Farmers Face Ruin as Highway Closure Leads to Mass Spoilage**

*Pulwama, September 17, 2025* – Hundreds of Kashmiri apple farmers and traders are facing severe financial distress as a prolonged closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has led to the spoilage of tons of harvested apples. The disruption, caused by recent heavy rains and resulting landslips, has left hundreds of trucks stranded, unable to transport the fruit to markets outside the region.

Javeed Ahmad Rather, a fruit trader from Kulgam, was forced to dispose of 2,000 boxes of rotten apples, a loss estimated at ₹15 lakh. “I have nothing but rotten apples now. I am digging a ditch to bury them,” he lamented. Similar scenes of farmers dumping their spoiled produce have been reported across the Valley.

The closure of the highway, the lifeline for Kashmir’s apple industry, is occurring during the peak harvest season, compounding the crisis. Shahid Dar, an apple grower from Kulgam, expressed the frustration of many, stating, “It was our time to earn money for the efforts we put in all year. It has all gone to waste.” Losses are estimated to potentially reach hundreds of crores.

CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami has called on the central government to intervene urgently, urging the implementation of the Dr. Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations and the inclusion of apples under the Minimum Support Price (MSP). He also highlighted the need to reintroduce the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to process overripe apples into juice and jam.

Political tensions are rising as J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah faces criticism for his handling of the situation. National Conference leader Syed Aga Ruhullah condemned the “assault on our growers,” while PDP leader Iltija Mufti met with Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha to address the issue.

CM Abdullah participated in a virtual meeting chaired by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, emphasizing the urgency of restoring the highway for fruit-laden trucks. Gadkari assured that the concerns would be addressed.

With J&K producing approximately 70% of the country’s apples and 35 lakh families relying on the industry, the crisis threatens to have a significant ripple effect on the region’s economy.

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