SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: The apple growers and traders in Kashmir valley are facing several hardships as hundreds of fruit-laden trucks are unable to pass freely on arterial Jammu-Srinagar national highway, trade leaders said. President of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Dealer’s Association and New Kashmir Fruit Association Bashir Ahmad Bashir said that growers and traders are starving due to massive losses owing to hurdles faced along approximately 300 Km long highway. “We were hopeful after advisories issued by Government that situation will improve, but it seems that same are not being implemented on ground level with spirit,” Bashir said.
The traders have been expressing their concerns for over two weeks over what they called an ‘unnecessary halt’ of fruit-laden trucks. Hundreds of trucks leave with thousands of apple-boxes daily from fruit Mandis across the valley for further export to Bangladeshi markets, where demand for Kashmiri apples is significant, but many traders alleged that business is suffering due to roadblocks on highway. The transporters said that fruit trucks do not reach Mandis on time, causing damage to produce. Dozens of distraught members of Truck Transport Association Shopian gathered at Aglar Fruit Mandi to stage a peaceful protest against halting of trucks along Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The transporters said that fruit trucks do not reach outstation Mandis in time, causing big losses to them. The transporters said that trucks were being stopped despite recent assurance by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha about facilitation free movement of fruit trucks.
Meanwhile, a delegation from Shopian Fruit Transport Association called on IGP Traffic Vikramjit Singh and highlighted issues regarding transportation of fruit from Shopian and other adjoining areas. Singh advised association members to increase dispatch of fruit trucks through Mughal Road, which is more convenient for traders.
Accepting suggestions of IGP Traffic, the association members highlighted two main issues with Mughal Road, one long wait time at Joint Army-Police Checkpoint at Poshana while second is poor maintenance of road including removal of debris from roadside. The IGP assured them of all possible cooperation by Traffic Police in ensuring smooth and speedy transportation of apple trucks from Kashmir to other parts of the country.
On the other hand, apple traders from Bangladesh have threatened to wind up business relations with Kashmir. “The move will hurt business to great extent causing huge losses to traders and if situation continues, we will quit trading here as well,” they stated.
While speaking to media, Bangladesh fruit purchasers expressed regret that from past 20 days, they have suffered significant losses due to unnecessary halt of fruit-laden trucks. Bangladesh has become one of the major markets for Kashmiri apples throughout the years and traders are focusing on Bangladesh since returns are higher. Every day, at least 30 trucks of apples depart Sopore fruit mandi for Bangladesh.