By Reyaz Ahmed , NAK,
Baramulla : Fruit and vegetable growers in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district have demand immediate compensation from the government as their crops suffered massive damage due to heavy rains, hailstorm and stormy winds that lashed valley.
“Our crops have suffered massive damage due hailstorm and flash floods triggered by incessant rains here, government should compensate us as we have taken loans from banks and other agencies,’ said Ali Mohmmed Bhat a fruit grower.
Talking to News Agency Kashmir, President of Baramulla Fruit Growers and Dealers Association, Ghulam Rasool Bhat said that 50 % to 80% apple and cherry crop has been destroyed due to heavy rains, hailstorm and stormy floods in North Kashmir.
“The government should immediately provide financial relief to the affected fruit growers and should also announce crop insurance scheme for us so that growers can bear such kind of loss,” he added.
He also added that fruit growers of valley were expecting bumper crop this season but hailstorm from last three have dashed their hopes.
However, Chief Horticulture Officer Baramulla Nisar Hussain while talking to News Agency of Kashmir said that as per departmental assessment 10 to 75 per cent fruit crops has been damaged in the district due to the recent hailstorm.
He added that about 90 villages have been affected. The department has geared up its field functionaries to render technical guidance and expertise to the affected orchardists for minimizing the damages.
“For this purpose, we are organizing awareness camps throughout the district so use different pesticides for preventive measures. The orchardists have been asked to spray Mycobutanil 10% WP in the affected orchards to prevent fruit rot and Alternaria attack on perforated leaves,” added he.
Village wise damage lists are been prepared in consultation with Revenue department for compensation process.
Pertinent to mention here that the worst affected areas in North Kashmir ‘s Baramulla district, Sopore, Rafiaabad, Sheeri Narwawe, Uskhura, Sangrama , Pattan, Uri wherein the vegetable, apple, walnuts and newly planted saplings were washed away inflicting huge damage .
Not only apple but also the vegetable crops cultivated by the farmers in here suffered damage in different area of Baramulla.