Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 23: Amid massive crop losses caused by successive hailstorms across Kashmir, President of Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi in Sopore, Fayaz Ahmad Malik, today demanded that the J&K Government declare 2026 a “disaster year” for the horticulture and agriculture sectors.
The demand comes as repeated hailstorms over the past several weeks have severely damaged orchards and farmlands across north and south Kashmir, with growers reporting up to 100 per cent losses in several areas.
Addressing reporters in Sopore, Malik said the scale of destruction had pushed thousands of farming families towards financial collapse and required immediate Government intervention.
“The Government must treat this situation as a major disaster. Thousands of families are dependent on horticulture, and if timely assistance is not provided, growers will face complete ruin,” he said.
He urged the administration to announce a comprehensive relief package, including financial compensation, crop insurance support, loan interest waivers and rehabilitation measures for affected orchardists and farmers.
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