The Horticulture Department has submitted a report to the government about losses caused to horticulture sector due to hailstorm and high speed winds. One of the top officials of the horticulture department told that Crops of some farmers in the state had got damaged in the ongoing spell of inclement weather due to hailstorm. “We have submitted the report to the government, not it is up to government whether they provide any relief to sufferers,” the official said. However one of the government officials told that reports regarding crop damage were being collected from the concerned DC's. For last over a month, the hailstorm and high speed winds hit parts of the state resulting heavy damage to crops. In Jammu region the maximum damage has been caused to mango production. “As per our survey the maximum damage has been caused to mango production in Jammu region. Atleast 40 mango production has been hit by hail storm in last one month,” an official of Horticulture Department said. The official said that orchadists have been asking government to provide them some relief. “There will be less production of fruits this year. Government has not taken any decision whether to provide them some compensation,: the official said. Similarly, this is the season of apple production in Kashmir Valley. The apple orchards are spread over 1,46,016 hectares in the Valley. The Kulgam and Baramulla districts are maximum hit by hailstorm in the Kashmir Valley. “Over 40 percent apple production has been affected in Kulgam and Baramulla district followed by Shopian and Bandipora. We are suffering from heavy losses due to natural calamity but goverent seems in no mood to provide any relief,”Ghulam Mohammad, an orchadist of Kulgam, said. In Baramulla, the worst affected areas are Watergam, Ashipora Dangiwacha and Zainageer, Rafiabad. The official said the other districts which too were affected were Shopian and Bandipora districts. “However, damages are less in these two districts,” the official added. He also advised orchardists to take necessary remedial to avoid any further damages. “We have advised orchardists to use Urea spray by which they can save their orchards and fruits are not much damaged,” he added. Horticulture is considered a backbone of the state economy. Lakhs of people of the state are dependent upon this sector. A large population of the state would be affected this year in the state. Source - http://www.knskashmir.com