The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union, an umbrella body representing all fruit growers’ associations in the region, has urgently called on the government to implement the long-promised Crop Insurance Scheme. Despite previous government assurances, the scheme has yet to be put into action, leaving growers vulnerable to the financial fallout of natural disasters like this one, the union president Bashir Ahmed Basheer said in a statement to Ziraat Times

In addition to the immediate implementation of the Crop Insurance Scheme, the Union has also requested the deployment of experts from the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) and the Department of Horticulture to assess the extent of the damage in Shopian and Kulgam. They have also called for sufficient compensation for the losses incurred by the growers.

A severe hailstorm and stormy winds struck the districts of Shopian and Kulgam on September 2, 2024, causing significant damage to the region’s thriving fruit industry. The storm, which hit during the critical apple harvesting period, has left fruit growers grappling with devastating losses. The Kashmir Valley’s horticulture sector, a cornerstone of the local economy, is now facing yet another crisis, with orchard owners reporting extensive damage to their crops.

Horticulture is a vital industry in Kashmir, directly or indirectly supporting the livelihoods of over 700,000 families. The sudden and severe weather event has resulted in the destruction of large quantities of apple crops, with many orchards in the affected areas left covered in a layer of hail. This loss is particularly hard-hitting, as it comes after several consecutive years of challenging weather conditions that have already strained the industry.

The Union hopes that the government will take swift action to protect this critical sector from further damage, emphasizing the importance of the horticulture industry to the region’s economy. With the fruit industry contributing around 10% to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the impact of this disaster is far-reaching, affecting not just the growers but the entire economy of Jammu & Kashmir.

Source - ziraattimes.com