Last year’s hailstorm cuts production in Shopian’s apple belt

Shopian, Jun 7: A series of hailstorm spells that battered the apple-growing belt of south Kashmir’s Shopian district last year has significantly reduced apple production this season, with farmers reporting a decline of around 30 to 35 percent in yield.

Farmers across several villages, including Handew, Imamsahab, Hillow, Killora and adjoining areas, said the recurring hailstorms during the crucial growing period last year damaged apple buds, affecting fruit-bearing capacity this season. “We are witnessing a substantial decline in production this year due to the damage caused by last year’s hailstorms,” said Masood Ahmad, an apple cultivator from Shopian. He said the yield from his orchards, spread over 10 kanals, is expected to be more than 35 percent lower compared to the previous year.

According to growers, four to five intense hailstorm spells struck the district last year, causing widespread damage to orchards. The storms knocked off fruits, stripped trees of foliage and damaged tender buds that later develop into fruit-bearing branches. “The impact is visible across many orchards in the plains of Shopian. The trees could not recover fully from the repeated weather shocks,” said Abdul Hakeem, another grower from Imamshab.

Farmers said that while weather-related losses are not uncommon, the frequency and intensity of hailstorms in recent years have become a growing concern. Shopian, often referred to as the apple bowl of Kashmir, is known for producing high-quality apples that are marketed across the country. Apple cultivation remains the backbone of the district’s economy, with more than 85 percent of the population directly or indirectly dependent on the horticulture sector for their livelihood. The decline in production is likely to have economic implications for thousands of farming families, traders and labourers associated with the apple industry. Growers fear that lower yields, coupled with rising input costs, could affect their earnings this year.

Many farmers have called for stronger crop protection measures and wider coverage of horticulture insurance schemes to help orchardists cope with losses caused by extreme weather events. They also stressed the need for timely compensation in cases of natural calamities. Officials in the horticulture sector acknowledge that weather-related challenges continue to affect apple production in different parts of Kashmir. However, they remain hopeful that favourable weather conditions during the rest of the season will help maintain fruit quality.