Amid highway crisis, ‘Giran apples’ proving burden on growers
Earlier ‘throw away’ apples would fetch revenue for growers
Pulwama: In Kashmir’s vast orchards, the sight of apples lying scattered on the ground is common during harvest season.
Locally known as “Giran”, these are the apples that fall prematurely from the trees before they can be picked. For decades, these fallen apples were considered waste, often left to rot for want of buyers. But in recent years, Giran apples found a small yet significant place in the market, offering struggling farmers at least a modest source of income.
Thousands of people across the valley, including growers, traders, and laborers, became dependent on this trade. Although sold at a fraction of the price of premium Kashmiri apples, the Giran produce helped farmers recover part of their yearly investment in pesticides, labor, and packaging.
However, the repeated closures of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway this year have broken the backbone of this fragile industry.
Farmers and traders say buyers are no longer interested in purchasing Giran apples, as the uncertainty of road connectivity means the fruit often fails to reach markets in time.
Unlike high-grade apples that can survive longer journeys, Gran apples need to be sold quickly—within two days—to avoid spoilage. With trucks stranded for days on the highway, the risk of rotting has discouraged buyers from investing.
“In normal times, a box of quality apples sells for over Rs 1,000 in the market, while Giran apples would fetch only Rs 100 to Rs 150 per crate. This small amount still helped us cover some of our expenses,” said Bashir Ahmad, a grower from Pulwama. “But this year, even that income has been taken away from us. The closure of the highway has made Giran apples nearly unsellable.”
Traders echo similar concerns, pointing out that they are incurring huge losses. “The Giran business relies on speed. If the produce doesn’t reach mandis within two days, it spoils on the way. The highway disruptions have completely destroyed the trade this season,” said a trader at Prichoo Fruit Mandi.
With thousands of families dependent on the business, growers and traders are urging authorities to prioritize the movement of apple-laden trucks on the highway. They argue that if the government does not intervene, not only will their income vanish, but an entire ecosystem of employment—pickers, packers, transporters, and traders—will be at risk.
“This is not just about apples lying wasted in orchards; it is about the survival of lakhs of people whose livelihoods depend on this crop. The government must ensure smooth passage for apple trucks, including those carrying Gran produce, otherwise a whole section of our economy will collapse,” said another grower.
They have sought immediate intervention of higher authorities in this regard
