While the valley of Kashmir has always been synonymous with horticulture, particularly apple cultivation. This fruit is not just an agricultural commodity; it is the commercial backbone of the region. The region generates almost 70-80% of the nation’s apples, and for centuries, apple orchards have been synonymous with livelihoods and culture. However, the commerce today finds itself dwindling owing to an unrelenting crisis that has been caused by almost successive waves of natural calamities on one hand and policy lacunas and logistical issues on the other..

The Anatomy of the 2025 Crisis

The ensuing year was exceptional in its devastation. Rains accompanied by landslides and flash floods during the last week of August severely damaged Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of India. This highway forms the main route for transporting horticultural produce for sale in different markets across the country. With hundreds of trucks loaded with consignment of apple in an indefinite stay, the perishable fruits suffered extensive spoilage. Boxes worth more than ₹1,000 were being bought at throwaway prices of ₹100 or ₹200, thus giving the suppliers and traders a grievous blow financially. According to reports coming from the local fruit markets, during this time, nearly 60% of the crop went bad as a consequence of the continuous delay in transit, while thousands of tonnes of apples either rotted away or were thrown into orchards and fields.

The catastrophe is not limited to immediate economic loss. The orchardists invest significant time, labor, capital etc., throughout the year. Fertilizers, pesticides, labor charges and packaging costs accumulate over months and the sudden spoilage of produce translates into nearly total loss of investment. This ripple effect touches every link in the supply chain from farmers who struggle to repay loans to traders who face losses on their stock and eventually to consumers who witness scarcity and price fluctuations.

Climatic Factors: The Unpredictable Valley

Weather has been an inseparable factor from Kashmir’s apple trade, but climate change has definitely increased vulnerabilities. Erratic weather patterns—unusually high temperatures during early summers, delayed frosts, sporadic hailstorms, and sudden heavy rainfall—have disrupted the natural cycles of apple trees. This year, extended heat waves alternated with heavy rainfall, creating intervals of drought and water stress. Such irregularity causes........

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