The initiation of the Vande Bharat Express in Kashmir is reshaping logistics for local apple producers, providing a quicker transit solution to disseminate their produce across India while maintaining quality.
Historically reliant on the frequently obstructed Srinagar-Jammu highway, the current rail enhancement offers a potentially transformative solution. Industry stakeholders envision a future "Apple Express" freight service, optimizing apple transport distinct from previous cherry shipments, which faced logistical constraints due to perishability and transfer requirements.
Bashir Ahmed from the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union asserts, "The successful rail shipment of cherries to Delhi was a positive start, but cherries have a short shelf life and had to be reloaded at Katra. That model won't work for apples, which are transported in bulk." The sector advocates for a direct freight rail link to Delhi, citing infrastructural capability and awaiting governmental approval.
The apple industry, a $960 million enterprise in Kashmir, dwarfs cherry exports, which total 13,000 metric tons. Encompassing 75% of India's apple production and sustaining over 3.5 million people, the sector's growth potential is impeded by costly, lengthy, and often disrupted road transit. Prominent apple varieties like Red Delicious and Maharaji remain affected by these logistical hurdles.
Farmer Abul Rashid suggests a dedicated apple train would significantly ease transportation challenges. Enhanced rail connectivity is poised to extend the reach of Kashmir's apple supply chain, overcoming infrastructural and geographical barriers.
Source: The Week