Even though Kashmiri farmers reaped a bumper apple crop this year, with 21 million metric tonnes of apples harvested this year as compared to 17-19 million metric tonnes annual harvest in previous years, the volatility in the market coupled with transportation issues is slowly turning apple farming, the backbone of the Valley’s rural economy, into a loss making venture. Half of the Kashmir’s Valley’s population is directly or indirectly connected with the horticulture sector. If the situation continues like this, the day is not far when Kashmir farmers would be forced to sell off their land and invest the money in some other profitable ventures which could at least sustain their families. According to local farmers and traders, each box of apples costs somewhere between Rs 300-400 for a farmer. This cost includes hiring the labour to prepare the orchards by digging them at the onset of spring. Then there is the cost of fertilisers and pesticides whose cost has gone up 20 per cent this year. At the end of the year, the farmer also requires to purchase apple boxes and again hire labour for harvesting in packaging of fruits. At the end, the fruit is either transported to local mandis or sent out to markets in different parts of the country which brings the cost to Rs 300-Rs 400 per box. However, this year, the situation has taken an ugly turn. Due to the annual migration of nomadic people along with their sheep, goats and horses and the ongoing expansion works, the prolonged closure of the highway has led to bulk arrival of apples in fruit markets across the country. This led to a drastic reduction in rate, forcing many farmers who had taken loans from banks through their Kisan Credit Cards, to sell their produce at dirt cheap prices. This has consequently led to immense concern in the farmers and traders. Many farmers may not be able to pay their monthly installments, which will lead to piling up of debt. The government needs to step in to save them. First it should announce some measure that will waive off certain taxes from apples. But most importantly, the administration which claims to work for the welfare of the poor, must immediately announce a waiver scheme for poor farmers who are staring at an uncertain future, given low financial returns from their orchards. It will go a long way in cultivating goodwill for the government among large sections of society in Kashmir which are associated with the horticulture sector.