Kashmir Fruit Markets Shut Down as Growers Protest Highway Blockades

Srinagar (The Azadi Times) – Fruit growers across the Kashmir Valley shut down all major fruit markets on Monday, accusing authorities of failing to ensure the smooth movement of apple-laden trucks on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway.

The shutdown affected Asia’s second-largest fruit market in Sopore, where emotional scenes were witnessed as orchardists broke down, lamenting that their year-long labor was going to waste.

Many farmers alleged that their trucks, carrying tons of apples, have been stranded for days on the national highway, while vehicles transporting iron and other commodities are being allowed to pass without obstruction.

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“If the Chief Minister cannot even ensure the free movement of fruit trucks, he has no right to remain in office. He should resign,” said Fayaz Ahmad Malik, President of the Sopore Fruit Mandi Association, addressing protesters in Sopore.

Malik further accused local legislators of complete silence, stating that not a single MLA has spoken out in support of the farmers’ plight.

Threat of Valley-Wide Strike

Growers warned that unless the highway is fully restored within the next 48 hours, they will call for a valley-wide shutdown that could paralyze the region’s fragile economy.

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Fruit merchants said the blockade has already caused crores of rupees in losses, with apples rotting inside stranded trucks. “Our livelihood is dying on the road while the government watches silently,” one grower said, his eyes filled with tears.

Sopore and Beyond

All major mandis in the Valley – including Sopore, Handwara, Shopian, Kulgam, and Anantnag – remained shut on September 14 and 15 in response to the growers’ strike call.

The fruit industry is a backbone of Kashmir’s economy, employing hundreds of thousands of people and generating significant export revenue. Farmers fear that continued disruption at this critical harvest time could devastate the sector.

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The crisis underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Kashmir’s orchardists, who not only struggle with fluctuating markets and climate conditions but also accuse authorities of indifference to their pressing needs.