The Advisor to the Chief Minister has said all the right things. Calling horticulture the “lifeline” of Jammu and Kashmir is not merely a political statement—it is an economic fact. Thousands of families depend on the apple industry, and billions of rupees flow into the Union Territory through this single sector. But for growers, comforting words are no substitute for roads that remain open and trucks that keep moving.
Every year, the same crisis returns with alarming predictability. The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway gets blocked by landslides, shooting stones, or traffic congestion just when the apple season reaches its peak. Fruit-laden trucks remain stranded for hours or even days. Apples lose freshness, transport costs soar, market prices fall, and ultimately it is the grower who pays the price.
The government’s assurance that “no hurdle will come in the way of horticulture” is welcome. However, the real test begins after the inspection ends and the cameras leave. Farmers are no longer looking for sympathy. They are demanding solutions. If horticulture is indeed Jammu and Kashmir’s economic backbone, then why does its transportation continue to depend on a highway that repeatedly collapses under pressure? Why are emergency traffic plans prepared only after disruptions occur? Why are fruit trucks forced to compete with every other category of traffic despite carrying highly perishable produce?
An economy worth thousands of crores cannot be left at the mercy of weather forecasts and administrative improvisation. The government must establish a dedicated fruit transportation corridor during the harvest season, ensure priority passage for apple trucks, deploy rapid-response teams at vulnerable stretches, and maintain round-the-clock coordination between the traffic police, the National Highways Authority, district administrations, and horticulture officials.
Equally important is accountability. Every prolonged closure translates into financial losses for growers. When delays occur due to avoidable administrative lapses, responsibility must be fixed instead of merely issuing fresh assurances.
Kashmir’s apple is more than a fruit. It is the source of livelihood for lakhs of people, the foundation of rural prosperity, and one of Jammu and Kashmir’s strongest economic identities. Protecting this industry requires more than inspections and statements, it requires efficient governance, reliable infrastructure, and time-bound action. Growers have heard promises before. This season, they deserve proof. The success of the government’s commitment will not be measured by press briefings but by one simple question: Did the apples reach the markets on time?
