Sopore, Sep 13 : Fruit growers and traders staged a peaceful protest at Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi in Sopore on Saturday against the frequent blockades on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which have caused heavy losses to the horticulture sector.
The protesters carried placards urging the government to save fruit industry of Kashmir.
President of Sopore Fruit Mandi, Fayaz Ahmad Malik, while addressing the media, said that thousands of fruit-laden trucks are currently stranded on the highway. He estimated the losses suffered by growers and traders this season to be in the range of ₹1,000 to ₹1,200 crore.
Malik, as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust, appealed to the authorities to immediately clear the route and allow traffic to move towards Jammu to prevent further damage to the perishable produce. He specifically urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to provide a two-day traffic clearance window for vehicles carrying fruit consignments toward Jammu.
The Sopore Fruit Mandi President also underlined the urgent need for the restoration of train services from Sopore, stressing that north Kashmir remains a vital hub for the export of fruits and other agricultural produce.
He said the persistent transportation disruptions have already inflicted severe financial losses on growers, making it imperative for authorities to act without further delay.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway serves as the sole all-weather surface link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country. However, frequent closures due to landslides, shooting stones, and repair works have repeatedly hit the valley’s horticulture economy, particularly during the peak fruit season. Growers say such interruptions delay supplies, cause rotting of perishable produce, and lead to loss of contracts with outside markets.
Sopore Fruit Mandi, regarded as the backbone of Kashmir’s horticulture sector, exports thousands of tonnes of apples and other fruits every year. The growers and traders maintain that until a reliable alternative is established or rail connectivity is fully restored, Kashmir’s horticulture sector will continue to remain at the mercy of highway blockades. [KNT]
