From Apples to Empty Hotels: How Kashmir’s Twin Crises Are Crippling Its Economy
By: Javid Amin | 23 September 2025
A Valley in Distress
In September 2025, Kashmir finds itself battling two parallel storms—an apple industry collapse and a tourism slump. Together, they threaten not just livelihoods but the very identity of the Valley, long celebrated for its orchards, hospitality, and breathtaking landscapes.
The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), Kashmir’s economic artery, has once again emerged as a choke point. Landslides, one-way restrictions, and alleged administrative apathy have left thousands of apple trucks stranded, leading to rotting produce and an estimated ₹1,200 crore loss.
Simultaneously, Kashmir’s tourism industry—the second pillar of its economy—has plunged into despair. Hotel occupancy has dropped below 20%, guides are unemployed, and artisans who depend on tourist spending have been left stranded.
This isn’t just an economic crisis—it’s a human, cultural, and political breakdown. And unless addressed with urgency, the Valley risks slipping into deeper despair.
The Apple Industry on the Brink
Kashmir’s Pride: Apples as Economy & Identity
Kashmir produces over 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, contributing nearly 8% of India’s apple output. The fruit isn’t just a crop—it’s a symbol of prosperity, gifted in weddings as wartav (ritual offering) and used in local proverbs as a metaphor for abundance.
Over 3 lakh families depend directly on apple farming, while thousands more—transporters, packers, mandi laborers, exporters—rely on its trade.
But this year, the industry is facing its worst crisis in decades.
NH-44 Blockade: A Highway of Havoc
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) has become a corridor of despair.
-
Over 5,000 trucks loaded with apples remain stranded between Qazigund, Ramban, and Udhampur.
-
Spoilage is rampant—apples that should have fetched ₹1,000 per box are now being sold at throwaway rates or rotting on the roadside.
-
Losses already exceed ₹1,200 crore, according to fruit growers’ associations.
“This isn’t just a roadblock. It’s a chokehold on our economy,” says Bashir Ahmad, a third-generation orchardist from Shopian.
Railways: A Symbolic Gesture, Not a Solution
In response to mounting anger, the government flagged off a special parcel train service for apple transportation.
But numbers tell a grim story:
-
Each train carries a fraction of the Valley’s daily output.
-
At the current pace, experts estimate it would take 190 years to move a single season’s harvest.
-
Loading and unloading delays at Katra and Udhampur add to the problem.
“We need roads, not ribbon-cutting ceremonies,” argues Altaf Lone, a Sopore trader.
Sopore Mandi Shutdown: Rage on the Streets
The Sopore Fruit Mandi, Asia’s second-largest, has been shut in protest. Traders, growers, and transporters have staged sit-ins, blocking entry points and demanding immediate clearance of trucks.
“Our year’s toil is rotting in trucks. We won’t stay silent,” says Irfan Mir, a mandi coordinator.
The closure has created ripple effects—daily wage laborers have lost income, school buses are halted, and even mutton supply chains are affected.
Political Tempers Flare
The crisis has turned political, with leaders trading barbs.
-
Aga Ruhullah (JKNC MP): Called the blockade “discriminatory,” alleging that Jammu-bound goods move freely while apple trucks remain stuck.
-
Sajad Lone (Peoples Conference): Accused the government of being a “mute spectator” while growers bleed crores.
-
Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (CPI-M): Demanded an Assembly debate and an immediate relief package for farmers.
-
Omar Abdullah (CM): Blamed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for mismanagement and called for NH-44’s control to be transferred to the J&K government.
Economic Fallout: Beyond the Orchards
The crisis impacts far more than just growers:
-
Transporters: Truck drivers lose lakhs as vehicles remain stranded for weeks.
-
Cold Storage Owners: Overcapacity leads to wastage.
-
Exporters: International buyers lose trust due to missed deadlines.
-
Local Markets: Price crashes make even premium apples cheaper than vegetables.
“This is not farming anymore—it’s punishment,” says Bashir Ahmad.
Emotional & Social Toll
In Kashmiri culture, apples represent pride and identity. Their decay is more than economic—it is emotional.
“We used to send apples as gulmuteeh (sweet gestures of love). Now we send apologies,” laments Javid Amin, editor of KashmirPost.
Farmers report growing mental health struggles, family debt crises, and migration fears. Many are considering abandoning orchards altogether.
Tourism in Freefall
A Valley Without Visitors
From Gulmarg’s snow to Pahalgam’s meadows, Kashmir has long been dubbed the “Switzerland of the East.” Tourism contributes 7% of J&K’s GDP and sustains over 5 lakh families.
But today, its hotels, shikaras, and guides stand deserted.
Occupancy Drops Below 20%
According to the Kashmir Hoteliers’ Association:
-
Hotels in Srinagar’s Dal Lake, Boulevard Road, and Rajbagh—once prime tourist zones—report less than 20% occupancy.
-
Pahalgam and Gulmarg are operating at near-zero bookings.
-
Several mid-range hotels have shut temporarily to cut losses.
“We’ve never seen it this bad—not even in peak unrest years,” says a Boulevard Road hotelier.
Why Tourism is Collapsing
-
Post-Pahalgam Attack Restrictions
The April 2025 attack that killed 25 tourists continues to cast a long shadow. Destinations like Drang, Doodhpathri, and Tosa Maidan remain shut. -
NH-44 Disruptions
Landslides and traffic delays have made road travel unpredictable. -
Lack of Follow-Through
International campaigns are launched, but domestic tourists face restrictions and confusion. -
Fear & Fatigue
Tourists are hesitant; travel agents are cautious.
Omar Abdullah’s Frustration
At the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) annual meet, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed disappointment:
“None of you stood by me when I faced criticism for promoting tourism. I went to Paris not for myself, but for your industry. Yet you stayed silent.”
He urged stakeholders to back the government in its efforts to revive Kashmir’s image globally.
Missed Opportunities & Industry Silence
Tourism leaders admit the industry has failed to speak in one voice. While the government pushes promotional campaigns, many destinations remain closed, undermining credibility.
“Either they should stop promotions or ensure access. Otherwise, it’s hypocrisy,” said Omar at the Gulmarg convention.
Ripple Effect: From Shikaras to Shawls
Tourism isn’t just about hotels. Its decline affects:
-
Shikara operators on Dal Lake.
-
Artisans who sell shawls, carpets, and papier-mâché.
-
Guides and pony operators in Gulmarg and Sonmarg.
-
Street vendors and photographers who survive on tourist spending.
Behind every empty hotel room lies a chain of unemployed workers and unpaid artisans.
The Twin Crises Together: A Valley on Edge
When horticulture and tourism collapse simultaneously, Kashmir’s economy crumbles. Both sectors account for over 70% of rural livelihoods.
The crises are not isolated—they feed into each other. Tourists avoid visiting because of disrupted highways, while fruit growers lose markets due to the same bottlenecks.
What Needs to Be Done
-
Dedicated Apple Corridors on NH-44 with priority clearance.
-
Minimum Support Price (MSP) for apples to shield farmers.
-
Cold Storage Expansion across South and North Kashmir.
-
Destination Reopenings with safety protocols to revive tourism.
-
Unified Promotion involving both government and industry.
-
Rail Alternatives for perishables and tourists.
-
Transparent Dashboards for project progress to restore public trust.
Editorial Reflection: A Pattern of Neglect
Political power—erased.
Handicrafts—fading.
Tourism—crippled.
Fruit industry—rotting.
Language—erased.
Dignity—diminished.
The crises unfolding in Kashmir are not just accidents of terrain or weather. They reveal a pattern of disengagement and neglect.
But Kashmir deserves more than survival—it deserves revival.
Call to Action: From Khatam to Qayam
As Kashmir grapples with apples rotting in crates and hotels standing empty, one truth is clear: resilience alone cannot save the Valley.
Revival demands coordinated governance, industry solidarity, and public participation. It demands that Kashmir’s lifelines—its orchards and its tourism—be nurtured, not neglected.
Until then, Kashmir will keep waiting. Its apples will keep rotting. Its hotels will keep echoing with silence. And its people will keep asking the same question: When will the Valley breathe freely again?
