Shopian: The secured zones established in Shopian after the three killings has resulted in additional costs to growers hurting the apple trade.
The three killing of non-locals since October 14 comprised a Rajasthan truck driver Mohammad Sharief, Chhattisgarh labourer and apple dealer from Punjab Charanjeet Singh. Since then, the government has set up six secured zones in the district. In the apple bowl where orchards are spread on 26,231 hectares producing an estimated 4 lakh metric tones annually, the secured zones include old fruit Mandi Arhama, mini secretariat, Hirpora besides other destinations. All these spots have been tightly secured with police and government forces deployed in strength to prevent any disruption.
But growers are facing losses. According to them, they have to first transport apple boxes in light motor vehicles from their orchards to the pickup points, where the fruit is finally loaded in trucks. This, according to growers, incurs them additional costs.
An apple box weighing 18-21 kilograms incurred fares of Rs 60 to 80 in previous years. In the current harvest, however, prevailing uncertainty spurred by the abrogation of Article 370 and followed by threats and killings has hiked the transport charges. The fare charges for the same apple box to Delhi costs up to Rs 160.
A farmer Shahid Ahmad, who had to travel six kilometers from his orchards to pickup location, said he has to pay additional Rs 10 to transport boxes for loading. This way, he said, they are anticipating more losses as labour charges too have doubled in absence of migrant workforce in the Valley.
Hundreds of thousands of labour from several states travel to Kashmir every year to take up assignments. But this year, the security advisory before the government of India scrapped Article 370 resulted in their exodus from the region. Their shortage has increased labour costs as well.
Deputy Commissioner Shopian Choudary Muhammad Yasin admits growers have to ferry the fruit to the designated spots but says there is “very good” response at “safe zones”. This, he said, is mainly because the forces are in complete control to prevent any untoward incident, at the pickup spots.

Raashid Hassan