Hundreds of fruit growers and traders in Sopore, Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), staged a protest against what they described as government policies that threaten the region's horticulture sector. Participants warned that continued disruptions in transport are placing the industry at risk of collapse.
According to Kashmir Media Service, growers pointed to mounting financial losses linked to delays in moving perishable produce. They said this year's harvest has been among the most difficult in recent memory.
Fayaz Ahmad Malik, President of the Sopore Fruit Mandi Association, told media representatives that thousands of trucks carrying fruit had been stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway over the past two weeks. He estimated losses at between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200 crore (US$120 million to US$144 million). "The perishable nature of the produce means every hour of delay causes irreversible damage to the livelihood of thousands of growers," Malik said.
He called for immediate restoration of highway connectivity, describing it as essential to the functioning of the Valley's fruit sector. "Kashmir is a major exporter of apples and other horticultural produce. Without reliable transportation, the entire sector is collapsing under financial stress," he added.
Protesters stressed that unless traffic flow is guaranteed, the financial stability of growers and traders will continue to deteriorate. They described smooth transport as the backbone of the Valley's horticulture industry, particularly for apple exports.
The demonstration ended peacefully, but growers and traders repeated their demand for urgent intervention to prevent the industry from facing further losses.
Source: Kashmir Media Service