Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker).

As we provide the news for free, we are relying on revenues from our banners. So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.
Thanks!

Click here for a guide on disabling your adblocker.

Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

Hailstorm hits Shopian orchards hard

In Shopian, India, a recent hailstorm left a mark on the region's apple and cherry orchards. Abdul Hammed reflected on the damage, observing bruised cherries on the ground. "All my hopes dashed in just a few minutes," he stated.

The storm, which lasted around 35 minutes, affected several villages, including Handew, Dobipora, and Wadipora, causing severe damage to the crops. Local farmers reported almost complete destruction of cherry varieties like Italy, while other varieties also faced damage.

Horticulture officials indicated that over a dozen villages experienced varying levels of crop damage, with some areas like Wadipora and Alshipora experiencing losses of up to 90%. The officials confirmed that both apple and stone fruit crops were heavily affected, suffering damage ranging from 45 to 90%.

Peer Shabir, president of the Pesticides Association, urged immediate compensation, stating, "The farmers have lost everything. The authorities must act swiftly to provide relief."

Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, leading the All India Kissan Sabha delegation, called for government intervention, emphasizing the need for comprehensive crop insurance and Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan waivers. "We saw utter devastation," he remarked after visiting seven affected villages.

A separate delegation from the Apple Farmers Federation of India (AFFI), led by Zahoor Ahmad Rather, also assessed the damage, highlighting the necessity of immediate relief and long-term support measures. "We expressed solidarity with the farmers and emphasized the urgent need for both immediate relief and long-term support," Rather stated.

The region of Shopian, where over 85% of the population depends on horticulture, faces an uncertain future as the community waits for governmental action and support to rebuild their livelihoods.

Source: Greater Kashmir