Massive hailstorms, coupled with unseasonal rains, have wreaked havoc on the fruit orchards, leaving thousands of growers in dire straits.
Hailstorms in the valley have severely damaged orchards
BARAMULLA: For thousands of fruit growers in Kashmir, this is turning out to be a sordid year. Massive hailstorms, coupled with unseasonal rains, have wreaked havoc on the fruit orchards, leaving thousands of growers in dire straits.
Preliminary figures reveal that around 30-40% of fruit crops, including apples and pear, have been ruined by the hailstorms, and according to J&K Fruit and Vegetable
Growers and Dealers Association, the financial loss might run into crores. “Fruit crops in 90 villages of north Kashmir have suffered 90-100% losses.
Villages in south Kashmir too have suffered heavy losses to the orchards. Our figures suggest that the growers may end up incurring losses worth Rs400 crore and more,” said Ghulam Rasool Bhat, president of the Association.
The horticulture sector is the mainstay of Kashmir’s economy. Around 5 lakh families comprising 20 lakh people are associated with it, which fetches Rs1,900 crore annually to the Kashmiri fruit growers. The Kashmir valley produces 14.19 lakh metric tonnes of fruit annually and apple tops the list with 11.50 lakh metric tonnes.
The Kashmir valley has been hit by constant hailstorms in the past month which has caused heavy damages to the orchards. Fruits have fallen prematurely and those which withstood the storm developed stains and patches which means that they would not fetch the desired value in the market.
“Our growers had taken huge loans from banks and commission agents. Most farmers are now not in a position to repay their debts, and some of them might become insolvent,” rued Bhat.
Fruit growers are critical of the government for not coming to their rescue in their hour of need.
“Had this happened in Himachal Pradesh or any other state, the Centre would have immediately dispatched a team to assess the loss and given relief,” lamented Bhat.
SC Bhat, chief planning officer (CPO) of the Horticulture department in Kashmir, said the government has set up a committee which is conducting a survey in different areas about the losses. “In some areas the loss to the orchards ranges between 60-70%. On an average, we believe the loss may be between 30-40%,” he said.
The CPO said they would take further steps once the details about the exact loss is available with the government.
h_ishfaq@dnaindia.net
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