Srinagar- The ‘near-total’ destruction caused by the intense hailstorm coupled with ‘cyclone-like’ winds to the horticulture sector, the mainstay of the valley economy, has led to huge losses to the orchardists in Kulgam and Shopian districts of south Kashmir.
The orchardists in the twin districts of south Kashmir are now somewhat dependent on administrative help to overcome their losses after witnessing their year-long arduous efforts for a desired yield ‘wrecked’ by a catastrophic hailstorm.
“While some areas could recover from the damage caused to the nearly matured crop by hailstorm a day earlier, many others are left with unimaginably huge losses,” Zahoor-ul-Islam, an orchardist from Kulgam informed Kashmir Observer.
The losses to the apple crop covering thousands of kanals of orchard land, according to Islam, had surpassed Rs 1500 crore approximately.
The Arreh village in Kulgam, he said, suffered 30 to 40 percent damage from hailstorm, followed by 25 to 30 percent in Nillu village of the district.
“It is unlikely that the losses to the apple harvest would be less than 50 to 60 percent given severity of the hailstorm and gust that not only washed away the nearly matured crop but also injured fruit on trees,” he said, adding, orchardists will have to pick apples before the stipulated period if the rain continues.
The damage caused by the hailstorm is being assessed, according to Mohammad Ramzan War, Chief Horticulture Officer Kulgam.
“It would be illogical to speculate on losses until a report is submitted in this regard. Many teams have been entrusted with gathering information about the damage done to the apple crop,” War told Kashmir Observer.
The storm lasted for 10-15 minutes with hail for 1-2 minutes. The tentative village wise status released by the Chief Horticulture Officer Kulgam indicate damage ranging from 15-25% across affected zones in Kulgam.
Besides destroying apple production, the hailstorm also damaged the pear crop in the district, leaving orchardists ‘inconsolable’.
“The losses orchardists’ suffered from the hailstorm and catastrophic winds cannot be recouped. Since Kashmir is the epicenter of apple cultivation in India, the valley produces over 25–26 lakh metric tons, or 78% of the country’s yearly apple output. So in order to partially offset the losses, we rely on administrative support,” a grower from Vehil village of Shopian added.
Besides injuring fruit on trees, which according to horticulture expert Mohammad Dilawar of Kapran village in the Shopian district, cannot be plucked being squandered, the hailstorm caused near-total destruction to almost ripe crops.
In the Shopian district, the storm severely damaged crops, particularly apple, in the following areas: Kapran, Rawalpora, Nowgam, Kachdoora, Chak Kachdoora, Vehil, and adjacent villages.
“The apple crop spanning across thousands of Kanals of orchard land is almost damaged, resulting in losses to the orchardists in millions of rupees. The worst hits of the hailstorm are Vehil in Shopian and Akhal village in Kulgam,” Dilawar told Kashmir Observer, adding, the weather improvement is necessary for a good harvest; else, the remaining crop will be destroyed as well.
“What may occur in the upcoming year is beyond our imagination or control. Orchardists, god-forbid, may find themselves in a similar predicament the next year due to the shifting climatic trends,” he added.
The orchardists demanded substantial financial support from the administration to help recover from the extensive damage caused by the hailstorm and to mitigate future losses. The destruction has once again prompted calls for the government to implement a crop insurance scheme.
“There is a need for a crop insurance scheme so that if growers face any damage, they at least get 50 percent of it back,” a grower said.
The growers are willing to pay for insurance on a yearly basis if the government implements a crop insurance scheme. They also urged the government to waive the interest on loans taken by farmers in areas affected by the hailstorm.
Notably, the record-breaking heat this year led to the fall of the fruit buds and the spread of infectious diseases. The prolonger hot, dry climate also triggered pest infestation in Apple orchards.
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