Kashmir’s Bountiful Apple Harvest Goes to Waste as Landslide Cuts Off Region

The picturesque Kashmir valley, nestled in the Himalayas, is renowned for producing some of the crispest and juiciest apples in India. However, this year's apple harvest has turned sour for local farmers, as a devastating landslide has blocked a major highway, leaving tonnes of fresh produce rotting in the orchards.The Kashmir region is the largest supplier of apples to the rest of India, with the fruit being a major contributor to the local economy. But the heavy rainfall that lashed the region recently caused a massive landslide, blocking the Srinagar-Leh highway, a vital transportation artery that connects Kashmir to the outside world. The highway has been closed for weeks, stranding farmers and their produce.With no way to transport their apples to markets, farmers are facing significant losses. "We worked hard to nurture our orchards and ensure a good harvest, but now it's all going to waste," said a frustrated farmer from the Shopian district, one of the major apple-producing areas in Kashmir. "The blocked highway has meant that we can't get our produce to markets, and it's rotting in our orchards."The apple harvest, which typically peaks between September and October, is a critical period for farmers in Kashmir. The region produces over 2 million tonnes of apples annually, with a significant portion being exported to other parts of India. However, with the highway blocked, farmers are struggling to find alternative routes to transport their produce, which is not only expensive but also time-consuming.The local administration has been trying to provide assistance to farmers, but the scale of the disaster has overwhelmed authorities. "We are doing our best to clear the highway and provide alternative transportation options to farmers," said an official from the Kashmir district administration. "However, the situation is challenging, and it's taking time to restore normalcy."As the apple harvest season draws to a close, farmers in Kashmir are counting their losses. The blocked highway has not only affected the apple industry but also impacted the local economy, which is heavily dependent on agriculture. With the highway still closed, farmers are worried that their produce will continue to rot, causing them to lose their livelihood. The authorities are working to reopen the highway, but until then, the apple harvest will continue to wither away, a victim of the landslide that has brought the region to a standstill.