Kashmir Fruit Growers Seek Disaster Relief as Repeated Hailstorms Ravage Apple Orchards | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Repeated hailstorms and stormy winds over the past two months have devastated orchards across Kashmir, triggering panic among lakhs of families dependent on the horticulture sector and pushing many fruit growers deeper into debt.

The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union on Monday demanded a comprehensive relief package for orchard owners, immediate implementation of a crop insurance scheme and restoration of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), warning that the Valley’s fragile rural economy could face severe consequences if urgent measures are not taken.

According to the Union, the latest spell of destruction occurred on Saturday evening when severe hailstorms and strong winds lashed several villages in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district and parts of Shopian, Kulgam, Budgam and Lolab in Kupwara district, causing extensive damage to fruit orchards.

The growers’ body said that repeated weather disturbances, particularly after evening hours, have become a pattern this season, with sudden hailstorms and gusty winds wreaking havoc in orchards across the Valley.

Recently, orchards in Rafiabad areas including Watergam, Lasser, Dangiwacha, Dandoosa, Hadipora and adjoining villages also suffered major losses. Horticulture belts in Sopore, Bandipora and parts of Ganderbal district reported similar destruction.

Several orchard areas in Baramulla district, including Sangrama, Wagura, Kreeri, Pattan, Kandi and Tangmarg, were also hit by severe hailstorms accompanied by dusty winds, resulting in widespread damage to fruit crops.

The Union said that despite a series of weather-related disasters damaging orchards across Kashmir, growers continue to remain without any effective safety net to protect them from mounting losses.

It said repeated appeals seeking a comprehensive compensation package, implementation of a crop insurance scheme and restoration of the Market Intervention Scheme have not yielded any response from the authorities so far.

The body warned that without insurance coverage and market support mechanisms, horticulture in Jammu and Kashmir has become an increasingly risky occupation, particularly as repeated hailstorms continue to destroy crops during critical stages of the fruit season.

The horticulture sector contributes nearly eight percent to Jammu and Kashmir’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and supports around 7.5 lakh families directly or indirectly. The sector is also a major source of employment for youth in rural areas.

Expressing concern over the mounting financial burden on orchardists, the Union said many fruit growers had taken Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans and were now struggling to cope with repeated crop losses.

The growers’ body urged the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to declare the continued hailstorm damage across the Valley as a “National Disaster” and announce immediate relief measures.

Among its key demands, the Union sought immediate implementation of a crop insurance scheme for the horticulture sector, reintroduction of the Market Intervention Scheme, announcement of a reasonable compensation package for affected orchard owners and free distribution of hail safety nets to fruit growers.

The Union also demanded waiver of KCC loans raised by poor fruit growers affected by repeated weather disasters this season.

Fruit growers said the back-to-back weather shocks in April and May had shattered hopes of a good harvest and left thousands of orchard owners uncertain about their economic future.