Jammu and Kashmir Launches First Apple Train to Ease Fruit Growers’ Woes
In a big boost for apple growers in Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first dedicated parcel train from Budgam railway station to Adarsh Nagar in Delhi on Monday. This new freight service aims to solve the major transportation headaches faced by fruit farmers, especially amid ongoing disruptions on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
L-G Sinha shared his excitement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Flagged off the first dedicated Parcel Train from Budgam to Adarsh Nagar Delhi. This new freight train service is a big step for the apple growers of the Union Territory to transport their produce to different parts of the country."
The move comes at a tough time for Kashmir’s fruit industry. Frequent closures of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway have left hundreds of trucks loaded with apples stranded between Srinagar and Jammu. Sadly, the fruit in these trucks has started rotting at many spots, leading to massive losses for growers. Carriers have had no choice but to dump the spoiled produce, turning a year’s hard work into waste.
When the highway opened briefly, a flood of apple consignments hit Delhi markets all at once. This sudden glut caused apple prices to crash, adding more pain to the growers already hit hard.
J&K Horticulture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar acted quickly, rushing to Ramban to oversee the highway’s full restoration. He told reporters he’s pushing for priority access on the route, saying, "I spoke to the Lt Governor about the issue during the parcel train launch in Srinagar. I’ve requested unhindered movement for fruit trucks for two days every week to fix this problem."
Dar plans to hold meetings with officials in Ramban and head to Udhampur to spot bottlenecks and find solutions. "Hundreds of trucks are stuck, and we need remedies now," he added.
But frustration is boiling over. Fruit mandis across Kashmir, including in Sopore, Handwara, Shopian, Kulgam, and Anantnag, shut down completely on Monday to protest the government’s failure to ensure smooth truck movement. Angry growers and traders warn of a valley-wide strike if the highway isn’t fully open in two days. Many broke down in tears, sharing stories of their ruined harvests. "Our entire year’s effort is rotting away," one grower lamented.
This crisis highlights the vital role of Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture sector. Contrary to what many think, horticulture—not tourism—is the region’s biggest industry. It drives a huge chunk of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) and provides jobs through crops like apples, walnuts, cherries, almonds, pears, saffron, and medicinal plants.
The government is stepping up with support, including high-yield apple varieties, better post-harvest handling, more storage facilities, and digital tools to connect farmers to markets. Initiatives like this parcel train for apple transportation are key to protecting Kashmir’s fruit growers and keeping the industry thriving.
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