‘They’re not serious about safeguarding horticulture sector’
Srinagar, May 13: Growers across Kashmir have demanded immediate government intervention after severe hailstorms and heavy rainfall caused widespread damage to orchards and standing crops in several districts, including Baramulla, Bandipora and parts of south Kashmir.
President of Sopore Fruit Mandi, Fayaz Ahmad Malik @ Kaka Ji, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that repeated appeals for crop insurance, implementation of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) and waiver of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans up to Rs 3 lakh have gone unheard despite continuous losses suffered by farmers and orchardists over the years.
“We have been time and again urging governments to launch crop insurance and MIS schemes, and waive off KCC loans up to Rs 3 lakh, but nobody is listening to us,” Malik said.
He said the agriculture and horticulture sector remains the backbone of Kashmir’s economy at a time when unemployment is rising.
“Agriculture and horticulture are the only sectors providing livelihood to people amid a job crisis, but the government does not seem serious about safeguarding this sector,” he rued.
Malik said growers have not received adequate compensation or meaningful relief since 2014 despite facing recurring natural calamities and market distress.
“Till now, only estimates and survey teams have visited affected areas, but nothing concrete has happened on the ground. The question is, how will a grower survive? The government doesn’t seem to be concerned about us?” he asked.
He urged the government to immediately announce compensation for affected growers and introduce long-pending welfare measures for the horticulture sector.
“We want loan waivers so that growers who are suffering continuously get some relief. The government must intervene without further delay,” Malik said.
The recent hailstorm, accompanied by intense rainfall, caused extensive damage to apple orchards, vegetables and other standing crops across many areas of north and south Kashmir. Growers said the weather has shattered hopes of a stable harvest season.
Growers from Pattan said they had never witnessed such a destructive hailstorm before.
“We have never witnessed this kind of hailstorm. It lasted for nearly half an hour and destroyed everything,” a group of growers from Pattan village said.
Ghulam Mohammed, a 65-year-old resident of Chanderseer, said the losses have pushed many families into uncertainty. “Our lives used to depend on it, but nothing remained. Where should we go and whom should we ask?” he said.
The affected growers appealed to the administration to understand the scale of damage and provide immediate support. (KNO)
