South Kashmir's apple growers are breathing a sigh of relief this harvest season, thanks to the increasing availability of cold storage facilities in the region. Recent closures of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, triggered by landslides and adverse weather, threatened to inflict massive losses on the apple industry, a vital component of the region's economy. However, the presence of modern cold storage units in Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam districts has proven to be a game-changer, safeguarding produce and preventing significant financial setbacks for farmers.
The highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir to the rest of India, has been repeatedly blocked, disrupting the transportation of apples during the peak harvesting season of September and October. These closures leave hundreds of trucks stranded, laden with perishable fruit, causing immense anxiety among growers and traders alike. Ghulam Nabi, an orchardist from Shopian, recounted the devastating experience of finding his entire truckload of apples rotten after being stranded for eight days. Bashir Ahmad, a grower from Pulwama, echoed this sentiment, questioning who would compensate them for their losses.
Recognizing the vulnerability of the apple industry, the government has been urged to provide immediate relief packages, freight subsidies, and, crucially, cold storage facilities. The existing cold storage infrastructure has played a critical role in mitigating the crisis caused by the highway closures. These facilities allow growers to store their harvested apples, maintaining their freshness and market value until transportation becomes feasible. By preventing spoilage, cold storage helps to stabilize prices and ensures that farmers can still sell their produce at a reasonable profit.
The cold storage chain in Pulwama and Shopian is considered the largest in South Kashmir. This network has provided a crucial alternative for growers struggling with transportation bottlenecks. However, some concerns have been raised about the practice of storing even lower-quality apples in these facilities, as it could potentially saturate the market and depress prices for higher-grade produce later on.
Despite the benefits of cold storage, the underlying issue of frequent highway closures needs to be addressed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the apple industry. Growers have called for the government to ensure the timely clearance of the highway and to develop alternative transportation routes to minimize disruptions. Some have suggested that the railway service for parcels from Badgam to Delhi should connect with the Sopore mandi. Others emphasize the need for better planning and infrastructure to prevent such crises from recurring. The fruit industry contributes thousands of crores annually to Kashmir's rural economy, and protecting it is essential for the livelihoods of countless families.
