Bilal Bhat
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 05: In a significant move aimed at strengthening Kashmir’s horticulture economy and providing fruit growers with a more economical and reliable transportation alternative, Director Horticulture Planning & Marketing J&K Ghulam Jeelani Zargar convened a high-level stakeholder consultation at Rajbagh, Srinagar, to explore the effective utilisation of railway freight and Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) services for transporting horticultural produce to markets across the country.
The initiative reflects Zargar’s growing focus on modernising the marketing and transportation ecosystem for Kashmir’s fruit industry, particularly at a time when thousands of growers and traders depend on efficient movement of highly perishable produce during the peak season.
Addressing representatives from Northern Railway, the Horticulture Department, Fruit & Vegetable Market Committees, growers’ associations, traders, aggregators and logistics operators, Zargar underlined the importance of making the newly available rail connectivity a practical economic opportunity for Kashmir’s horticulture sector.
The Director described the establishment of rail connectivity between Kashmir and different parts of the country as a major milestone for the horticulture industry, stressing that effective use of railway freight and Ro-Ro services could help strengthen the transportation and marketing system, facilitate timely movement of fruit and reduce logistical difficulties faced by growers and traders.
The significance of the initiative can be gauged from the fact that approximately 25,000 metric tonnes of apples were transported by rail from Kashmir during the previous season, demonstrating the potential of railways as an alternative transportation channel for the Valley’s multi-billion-rupee horticulture sector.
What makes Zargar’s approach particularly important is the emphasis on bringing all stakeholders to one platform rather than treating transportation merely as a departmental issue. Northern Railway officials, growers, traders, market committees, aggregators and logistics providers were brought together to examine operational bottlenecks and identify practical solutions.
During the consultation, the Assistant Commercial Manager, Northern Railway, made a detailed presentation explaining the available railway facilities, booking procedures, operational modalities and freight requirements for horticultural produce.
Stakeholders also discussed difficulties experienced during the previous season and explored ways to make railway transportation smoother, faster and more accessible during the peak fruit season.
The President, Fruit Association Sopore, highlighted the operational and logistical challenges encountered during the previous season and sought timely intervention to remove bottlenecks so that growers and traders could make greater use of railway services.
Aggregators and logistics service providers also shared their field experience and reiterated their commitment to providing transparent, ethical and grower-friendly services while ensuring efficient movement of horticultural produce.
Zargar welcomed the participation of all stakeholders and assured them of full departmental support in resolving the issues raised during the consultation. His emphasis on coordination reflects a broader understanding that the success of railway-based fruit transportation will depend not merely on the availability of trains, but on seamless coordination between growers, markets, railways, traders and logistics operators.
All Valley President Bashir Ahmad Bashir welcomed the Department’s initiative and appreciated its efforts to provide growers with additional and reliable transportation options. He too stressed the importance of continued coordination among stakeholders.
The consultation comes at a crucial juncture for Kashmir’s horticulture industry, which remains heavily dependent on road transportation for access to major consuming markets outside J&K. By encouraging greater utilisation of railway freight, the department seeks to reduce dependence on roads, improve the timely delivery of perishable produce and potentially ease the logistical burden on growers and traders.
For Zargar, the challenge is therefore not simply to promote railway freight, but to create an efficient, coordinated and grower-centric transportation mechanism that can become a dependable part of Kashmir’s horticulture supply chain.
The initiative also signals a changing approach to horticulture marketing in Jammu and Kashmir—one that increasingly recognises that improving growers’ incomes requires attention not only to production, but also to storage, transportation, market access and logistics.
With the horticulture sector facing the constant challenge of getting Kashmir’s fruit to distant markets quickly and economically, Zargar’s push for greater railway utilisation could prove particularly significant.
The Directorate has reiterated its commitment to facilitating closer coordination among Northern Railway, the Horticulture Department, market committees, growers, traders, aggregators and logistics operators, while ensuring timely dissemination of information regarding freight services, booking, loading and unloading arrangements.
For Kashmir’s fruit growers, the message emerging from the consultation is clear: the Valley’s new railway connectivity must be converted from an infrastructure achievement into a real economic advantage for the grower. And under Ghulam Jeelani Zargar’s leadership, the Horticulture Planning & Marketing Directorate appears determined to make that transition happen.
