Repeated hailstorms wreak havoc on horticulture sector

Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, May 25

Repeated hailstorms and heavy rain, over the last one month, have extensively damaged the horticulture sector, particularly apple orchards,  in south Kashmir region.

According to conservative estimates, the damage to crops at various places has been between 15-30 per cent. 

The latest hailstorm yesterday has affected Bugam, Supar, Czinigam, Bogund, Danev, PN Pora and Nanibugh villages of Kulgam district. In April, heavy rain lashed the Valley. However, the first hailstorm was reported from Pulwama district on April 22. The 15-minute storm left crops battered.

During the intervening night of May 14-15, a 20-minute hailstorm damaged apple crop in many villages of Anantnag and Kulgam districts, including Brakpura, Gopalpora and Mattan villages of Anantnag district and Ashmuji, Nadipora, Chakpora, Kanczoo, Baan and Srandu villages of Kulgam. Alleging that the Horticulture Department has been complacent, the farmers said that no survey has been conducted in the affected areas to estimate the losses.

“They have not even visited us once to tell us about measures to be taken to save our crops,” said Zahid Ali, an apple farmer from Kulgam district. The farmers from other hail-hit villages have similar complaints with the department.

Director Horticulture, PK Sharma, said the surveys had already been carried out, not only in south Kashmir but across the Valley. “Teams have been visiting these villages and an overall damage of about 15 per cent has been reported so far,” Sharma said, adding that the May 15 hailstorm had done maximum damage to certain areas in Kulgam, quantum of which could be way above 30 per cent.