CPI (M) has demanded early compensation to the orchardists and farmers who suffered losses due to today’s devastating hailstorm in Anantnag, Kulgam and Kupwara. The party has alleged that whenever natural calamities cause damage to the fruit and crops, the worse affected are assured compensation and even surveys are conducted but no relief reaches to them. Calling for a comprehensive compensation for the farmers and orchardists who suffered extensive damages due to hailstorm, the party has urged the state government to go for immediate assessment of damages to fruit and standing crops and disburse financial relief to the affected families without any delay. In a statement issued here today, CPI (M) State Secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik said that during the last Kharief season surveys were conducted in the hail storm affected areas of the valley but relief is still awaited. Mere assurances and surveys cannot satiate the interests of the affected farmers; he maintained and urged the government for initiating practical measures to provide timely relief to the affected orchardists and farmers. The CPI (M) leader said that the hailstorm caused massive damage to horticulture sector in valley and the state government's apathetic attitude towards its farmers has been playing havoc with the sentiments of the farming community which has been demanding relief during the past many years. Even during the current season, the crops across the length and breadth of the State have been extensively damaged due to unseasonal rains, hailstorm and farmers have been crying for help from the state government and its agencies, he added.” Reiterating his call for introduction and implementation of Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) in Jammu and Kashmir, Malik said the scheme will save the fruit growers and agriculturists in the event of losses suffered due to natural calamities. The agriculture, horticulture loans which have been mounting due to successive failure of crops in most parts of the State have been pinching the pockets of the farmers, who have nowhere to go, he said and stressed on the need to arrange one-time waiver on specified amount of KCC and other loans in favour of farmers and horticulturists who are not in a position to purchase fertilizers and pesticides for their farms and orchards. Source - scoopnews.in