Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) senior leader and former legislator Rafi Ahmad Mir on Sunday expressed serious concern over the losses caused to crops and orchards across Kashmir divisions due to hailstorm and urged the J&K UT administration to provide immediate compensation to the affected orchardists and farmers accordingly.
Mir said that the hailstorm, gusty winds and incessant rains have caused huge damages to crops and orchards in various districts of South Kashmir especially in Pahalgam belt in Anantnag.
“The hailstorm has wrecked havoc in Aishmuqam, Sallar and Budroo areas of Pahalgam which has resulted into huge loss to fruit and other agricultural crops in the district. There are similar reports from certain high altitude areas of North and Central Kashmir where the heavy rains have damaged orchards and destroyed other crops as well,” Mir said, while demanding an immediate assessment of these losses by the restive district administrations.
He said that amid the prevailing lockdown, the financial condition of fruit growers and farmers is already abysmal and most of the farmers and fruit growers are not in a position to purchases pesticides and fertilizers to prevent spread of crop diseases.
“JKAP appeals the Lieutenant Governor G.C Murmu to facilitate supply of subsidized pesticides and fertilizers to fruit growers through horticulture and agriculture departs so that they can at least save their produce from disease and mites and indemnify their source of livelihood,” Mir remarked.
He urged the LG led government for a special financial package to the affected farmers, orchardists who have suffered extensive damages due to heavy rains and hailstorm that caused havoc in valley. “The government should depute revenue teams to assess these damages immediately so that the orchardists and peasants are provided compensation well in time,” he said.
