Hailstorms damage apple orchards, standing crops in Kashmir parts

Srinagar, May 12: Severe hailstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to orchards and standing crops across several parts of Kashmir, leaving growers worried about heavy losses during a crucial stage of the fruit season.
The hailstorm affected many areas in south Kashmir’s parts and north Kashmir’s Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla districts, where apple orchards, vegetables and other crops suffered damage, locals and officials said.
Farmers said large hailstones lashed orchards during the afternoon, damaging apple blossoms and tender fruit, raising fears of a decline in production this year.
“This is the most sensitive time for apple growers. The blossoms were healthy, but the hailstorm damaged a large portion of the crop within minutes,” Ghulam Mohammad Dar, an orchardist, said.
Several videos from affected areas showed orchards covered in hailstones while strong winds and rain battered trees and crops.
Farmers said they had already been facing uncertainties due to erratic weather patterns over the past few years, and the latest hailstorm has added to their concerns.
“We spend lakhs every year on pesticides, labour and maintenance. If the weather continues like this, it will become impossible for small farmers to survive,” Fayaz Ahmad, a grower from Baramulla, said.
In Kupwara, vegetable growers said their standing crops also suffered damage due to heavy rain and hail.
“The vegetable fields were badly hit. Waterlogging and hail damaged the crops, and we fear major financial losses,” Abdul Rashid, a farmer from the district, said.
Residents in affected areas urged the administration to immediately assess the losses and provide compensation to the growers.
“We request the government to send teams for damage assessment. Farmers are already under financial stress, and such losses cannot be borne without support,” a group of orchardists in Shopian said.
Officials said reports about the extent of damage were being collected from different districts.
Kashmir’s horticulture sector plays a major role in the region’s economy and provides livelihood to lakhs of families.
Apple farming, considered the backbone of the rural economy in many districts, frequently suffers due to unseasonal weather events, including hailstorms, heavy rain and snowfall. (KNO)