Around 25,000 metric tonnes of apples were transported from Kashmir by rail during the last season, Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing Ghulam Jeelani Zargar said on Saturday, calling railways an emerging alternative for transporting horticultural produce to markets across the country.
“About 25,000 metric tonnes of apples were transported by rail from Kashmir during the last season,” Zargar SAID.
He said the establishment of rail connectivity between Kashmir and different parts of the country marks a significant milestone for the horticulture sector and offers a promising and cost-effective option for transporting produce, particularly during the peak apple season.
“There is a need for effective utilisation of railway freight and Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) services to further strengthen the transportation and marketing system,” Zargar said.
He said improved rail connectivity can facilitate the timely movement of produce, reduce logistical challenges and strengthen the overall transportation network, benefiting growers, traders and other stakeholders associated with the horticulture sector.
Zargar was speaking after a stakeholder consultation meeting convened by the Directorate of Horticulture Planning and Marketing at Rajbagh, Srinagar, under his chairmanship to deliberate on the effective utilisation of railway goods/freight and Ro-Ro services for transportation of horticultural produce.
The Director Horticulture said greater utilisation of railway services could provide an additional and reliable transportation option during the peak harvest season, when large quantities of apples need to be moved to markets outside the region.
The increased focus on rail transportation comes amid persistent challenges in transporting Kashmir’s apple produce by road. During the peak season, heavy traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, frequent highway closures, traffic restrictions, landslides and adverse weather conditions can delay the movement of fruit to markets outside the region.
