Rapid Movement Of The Horticultural Produce An economic priority
Bushan Lal Saraf bushanlalsaraf@gmail.com Come rains in July /August months of the year ,the up and down traffic movement woes on NH 44 –connecting Kashmir with the mainland - start haunting us .This has...
Bushan Lal Saraf
bushanlalsaraf@gmail.com
Come rains in July /August months of the year ,the up and down traffic movement woes on NH 44 –connecting Kashmir with the mainland - start haunting us .This has indeed become an yearly feature , with no respite in sight – at least not in the near future .Traffic issues surface despite remarkable improvements having been made to the road connectivity . As things stand today ,we may have to bear with the ordeal for some time more .
The most troubling part of the issue crops up at the time when there is a heavy up and down traffic movement on the NH 44, on account of the inward flow of Shri Amarnath Yatris and outward flow of the horticulture produce of the Valley .
Horticulture ,as we all know , is the mainstay of J K’s economy .It provides livelihood to the thousands of people , besides being a source for entrepreneurship , a big job provider in the private sector and a facilitator of the region’s prosperity . Chief Minister, Omar Abdulla sounded right to a large extent when he , in his key address , delivered recently, at the inaugural session of the I I M Bangalore Alumni Association , said that no society had ever become prosperous solely through government employment or public expenditure ,stressing that enterprise is what converts opportunity into prosperity . In this regard attention has to paid to the horticulture concerns which ,undoubtedly , make the back bone of the economy .
In the address referred hereinbefore Omar Abdullah further said , “ Jammu and Kashmir should build on its strengths in horticulture ,handicrafts ,tourism and hydro power ………..” According to him – and not without merit- in J & K agriculture and allied activities offered the biggest opportunities , most of which still remains untapped . Even before autumn’s bulk outward movement of the fruit commences the beginning of season also witnesses a substantial amount of outward movement of apples and peaches . According to the Kashmir Valley Fruit growers and dealers Association and New Kashmir Fruit Growers Association , 100 to 120 trucks loaded with fresh fruit like peaches and early ripening apple Variety leave valley every day . ( D E 1st August ). No wonder they have urged MPs of J &K to raise traffic related issues in the running Parliament session .
The ongoing Amarnath Yatra ,too , has a great economic potential for the area . Apart from catering to the spiritual urge of lacs of devotee to have a Darshan of Lord Shiva ( Barfani Baba ) located in the high mountain ranges of the Phalgam area , its contribution to the Jammu & Kashmir’s economic prosperity is substantial . Seeing importance of the Yatra , both ways ,the state governments in the past and present would provide all support and encouragement required to satisfy the devotee’s Aastha. Since long ,people in Kashmir have been coming forward whole heartedly to ensure Yatra’s safe and satisfactory culmination.
While it is a measure of good fortune of the people that these two economic developments of huge potential shape together rather simultaneously , however , the seasonal rains and their total dependence on road worthiness often turns problematic . Their happening at the same time , occasionally, makes them collide with each other ( not physically but logistically disrupting the activities mainly because both use the same route .The logistic constraints , unavoidable security imperatives for the Yatris , whether vagaries and other unforeseen causes impose an unintended restraint on the out flow of the highly perishable horticulture produce . This inflicts a big dent to the value of the fruit laden in trucks ,because it happens at a time when whether condition in the J &K and rest of the country are such as not to allow a single day’s delay for the fresh fruit to reach the Mandis across Indian cities and then to a potential consumer .
It is essential to synchronize the fruit movement and the Yatra travel because both complement each other in strengthening the state economy . It can not to be an “ Either / Or “ situation . Similarly, there is no room for trading off one for the other . So there is an impending need for a sustainable route for fresh fruit to reach the desired destiny .We can’t take Railway Wagons to every orchard or a local fruit Mandi in Valley. That will spell a huge environmental and economic disaster and prove a remedy worse than the disease .
One has to keep it mind that the fresh fruit is packed , mainly ,in a fragile card board boxes and ,therefore , may not stand the wear and tear likely to be caused by loading , unloading and reloading at multiple points , which becomes unavoidable once the freight is carried by a Rail wagon .The tossing up and down will not only cause damage to the packing cases but also will inflict injuries to the fresh fruit packed in - causing a huge dent to its quality and the monetary value . However , if it becomes necessary to use Railway mode for the transportation of fresh fruit then it ought be a completely dedicated one – minimizing loading , unloading and reloading exercises and cutting short the stoppages .
These are pure logistic matters which call for logistic and logical approach to settle them .There is no room for the party politics .But, true to their wont some Kashmir based politicians ( there are few elsewhere also ) will always seek an opportunity to play the game .It will really be unfortunate if an attempt is made to pit one movement against the other . Murmurs heard in this regard must be silenced by the well meaning people of Kashmir who hugely outnumber the disgruntled few , before they amplify into an irritating noise .
B L SARAF
Former Principal District and Sessions Judge
