Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 13:The hailstorm has wreaked havoc on the apple crop in the Rafiabad area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, with orchardists claiming losses of up to 70 percent of their crop.
The orchardists said that hail and strong winds have badly harmed the apple crop in Rafiabad’s upper areas and that they should be appropriately compensated. They argued that the hail-damaged apple harvest would not fetch the intended price because the damages are permanent at this time. “The government should send a team of experts here to assess the actual damage to the crop and compensate farmers accordingly. We have lost 70-percent of our fruit,” a grower said.
He said that while the entire upper belt was impacted, Panzalla, Takya, Shalkoot, Ladhoo Ladoora, and other Rafiabad villages were the hardest hit. “It wasn’t just any hailstorm; it was a very severe one. I believe that was a divine punishment,” he said.
Despite access to loss after natural calamities, affected farmers claim that the government has never adequately reimbursed them. They demanded that KCC loans be waived because the hailstorm had devastated around 70% of the crop.
“Everyone suffered losses. I estimate that 70% of the fruit has been harmed. We have also experienced hailstorms in the past, but the government has never provided any compensation. There are poor people who live here, and the government should assist them,” he said.
According to Chief Horticulture Officer Baramulla, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, the crop is not covered by crop insurance, which is why farmers are not receiving compensation for their losses. He, however, said that the department will look into the losses and report them to the appropriate authorities.
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