As apple harvest peaks, why Kashmir seeks a green corridor to India's markets

The apple industry fears a repeat of 2025 when weather-related closures of national highway-44 caused estimated losses of over Rs 2,000 crore to the sectorRiyaz Ahmad Khan, an apple grower in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, is in the midst of harvesting his first Gala crop from the high-density orchard he set up last year. While strong prices for Gala apples across India’s fruit markets raise hopes of a good return, he remains anxious about the repeated monsoon disruptions on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44).“My apple crop is ready. I have already harvested Gala Schniga and now started harvesting Gala Mema. But I am worried whether I would be able to send the consignments to Delhi on time because of the frequent highway closures caused by landslides and other reasons,” Riyaz said.His concern reflects a wider industry anxiety. Last year, prolonged closures of NH-44— the Kashmir Valley’s only reliable road link to the rest of the country—inflicted estimated losses of over Rs 2,000 crore on the apple sector.As the harvest of early apple varieties, particularly Gala, along with plums and other perishable fruits, begins, various fruit growers’ associations, the Sopore Fruit Mandi and the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) have stepped up demands for a dedicated green corridor to ensure safe and timely movement of fruit-laden trucks. Fayaz Ahmad Malik, president of the Sopore Fruit Mandi, one of India’s largest wholesale fruit markets, said a dedicated corridor and fixed time slots for fruit trucks has long been a demand. “Besides the recent highway closures due to landslides, one-way traffic is a major problem. Authorities should allow fruit trucks during designated time slots every day so that the produce reaches markets across India on time,” he said.“As the harvest season picks up, 70-80 trucks leave Sopore Fruit Mandi every day,” informed Fayaz, adding that 400-500 trucks loaded with fresh fruit are currently leaving the Valley daily, and the number is expected to rise as the harvest season peaks.Echoing the concern, KCCI secretary general Faiz Ahmad Bakshi noted that the volume of trucks can be managed efficiently with dedicated time slots or priority passage. “A green corridor would ensure smooth traffic management while preventing avoidable delays that directly affect the quality and market value of fresh fruit,” he said.The apple industry sustains hundreds of thousands of families across Kashmir and contributes nearly Rs 12,000 crore annually to Jammu and Kashmir’s economy. Almost the entire crop is transported via NH-44 to wholesale markets around India.Uninterrupted road connectivity is therefore critical for preserving fruit quality, ensuring timely arrivals, maintaining price competitiveness and safeguarding growers’ incomes. Even short delays, stakeholders point out, can sharply reduce the market value of highly perishable early-season varieties, disrupt the supply chain, raise freight charges, increase loading and unloading costs, escalate fuel and labour expenses, delay payments to growers and traders, and erode buyers’ confidence in Kashmir’s produce.KCCI has sought the intervention of J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and chief minister Omar Abdullah to ensure priority passage for fruit-laden trucks on NH-44 throughout the harvesting season. The chamber has also called for close coordination among the traffic police, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), district administrations and the horticulture department for rapid clearance of blockages, prompt restoration of traffic after weather-related disruptions, and regular real-time traffic advisories for growers, traders and transporters.Both Fayaz and Faiz ruled out the Mughal Road, a historic link between Shopian in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu’s Poonch, as a viable alternative. Most apple consignments move in 12-tyre and 16-tyre trucks whereas the Mughal Road is better suited for smaller vehicles, they said. NH-44, they maintained, was the only practical and economically viable surface corridor for movement of horticultural produce outside Kashmir.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsPublished By: Yashwardhan SinghPublished On: Aug 17, 2026 17:58 IST