Srinagar, Aug 01 (KNO): The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union (KVFGDU) has appealed to Members of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir to take up the issue of frequent disruptions on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) during the ongoing Parliament session, warning that prolonged delays in transporting perishable fruits could inflict severe financial losses on growers already reeling from weather-related damage earlier this year.
Addressing Lok Sabha MPs Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi and Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, and Rajya Sabha MP Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, the Union, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), urged them to raise a calling attention motion or parliamentary question seeking immediate intervention by the Centre for ensuring smooth and uninterrupted movement of fruit-laden trucks on the highway.
The growers said the harvesting of pears, early apple varieties and plums is currently in full swing across the Valley, with around 100 to 120 trucks carrying fresh produce leaving Kashmir every day for different markets across the country.
They said these fruits have a very short shelf life and require immediate transportation to ensure they reach markets in good condition. Even minor delays, they added, reduce the quality of the produce, resulting in lower prices and substantial financial losses for growers.
The Union pointed out that the horticulture sector had already suffered extensive damage during April and May this year due to repeated hailstorms and strong winds that affected orchards across several districts.
"Fresh fruits such as pear, Babagosha, plum and early apple varieties are highly perishable and need to be transported on a war footing. Every additional day spent on the highway reduces their market value and increases the burden on growers who have already suffered heavy losses because of adverse weather," the representation stated.
The growers described the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) as the lifeline of Kashmir's horticulture industry, saying it remains the only dependable route for transporting fresh fruits and vegetables to markets outside the Valley.
They said large fruit consignments are transported mainly in 10-wheel, 12-wheel and 16-wheel trucks, which cannot effectively use the Mughal Road as an alternative because of operational limitations for heavy vehicles and large-scale commercial transport.
While the administration has advised transporters to use the Mughal Road whenever NH-44 is disrupted, the Union said the route is not suitable for handling the volume of fruit transportation during the peak marketing season.
Highlighting the economic significance of horticulture, the growers said the sector contributes nearly Rs 12,000 crore annually to the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and supports the livelihood of more than seven lakh families directly or indirectly.
The representation also expressed concern over the present traffic management system on NH-44, where one-way traffic movement and restrictions imposed due to highway maintenance and the ongoing Amarnath Yatra have significantly slowed the movement of fruit-laden vehicles.
According to the Union, trucks carrying fresh produce that earlier reached major markets within a day are now taking three to four days to complete the journey, adversely affecting fruit quality and returns to growers.
The growers said delays on the highway have become a recurring issue during every fruit season and stressed that maintenance work should be planned in a manner that does not disrupt the transportation of perishable produce.
They called for better coordination among traffic authorities, the National Highways Authority, district administrations and other concerned agencies to ensure timely movement of fruit-laden vehicles and provide transporters with real-time updates on road conditions.
Seeking immediate intervention, the Union urged the MPs to impress upon the Government of India to expedite repair and restoration works on NH-44 and ensure that the highway remains fit for two-way traffic so that uninterrupted transportation of Kashmir's fruit to markets across the country can be ensured during the peak harvesting season.
"The uninterrupted movement of fruit-laden trucks is vital for safeguarding the livelihood of lakhs of growers and preserving the reputation of Kashmir's horticulture industry. We request our elected representatives to raise this matter in Parliament and seek urgent action from the concerned authorities," the Union said—(KNO)