SRINAGAR: The prolonged closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway has turned into a windfall for Himachal Pradesh, where apple prices have soared by nearly 40 percent this season.
The highway, which has been closed for the last two weeks, halted the supply of Kashmiri apples to fruit mandis across India, pushing outside traders to turn to Himachal Pradesh. The sudden surge in demand has driven up prices sharply, with elite varieties like Royal Delicious witnessing record highs.
“Rates of Royal Delicious have surged to ₹2,500 per box for the first time. Last year it was ₹1,500,” said Davender Sharma, owner of Maa Tara Fruit Company, crediting the price hike to the highway disruption. “We are witnessing an increased demand for apples in the markets. Production has also been higher this year despite rains and floods in some areas.”
According to dealers, Himachal’s markets have already recorded an unprecedented inflow of 1.61 crore apple cartons till mid-September—48 lakh cartons more than the same period last year. With Kashmiri apples stranded en route and rotting, Himachal produce has largely dominated mandis across the country. “For the last two weeks, it’s only Himachal apples that have catered to mandis across India,” said Anil Sharma, another fruit dealer.
Meanwhile, the story has been grim for Kashmiri growers. At Jammu’s Narwal fruit mandi, a box of Giraav apples sold for just ₹1,00 on Monday, compared with ₹500 earlier, with much of the stock being rotten. “We have received mostly rotten apples. Customers don’t buy this quality, and a lot of stock has been dumped,” Vishal, a dealer, lamented.
The apple growers and dealers estimate the loss of nearly Rs 2000 crores following the blockade of the national highway.
Kashmir, currently, produces more than 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, accounting for nearly 70% of India’s apple production. A mainstay of Kashmir’s economy, the Rs 10,000 crore apple industry, provides a livelihood to around 3.5 million people in the region.
Apples are exported to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and even international markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
‘Highway halt’: J&K’s loss, Himachal’s gain
