Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jan 16: The farmers on the outskirts of Srinagar are grappling with the challenges of a prolonged dry spell as their crops suffer substantial damage.
Nazir Ahmad, a farmer from the Maloora area, with over five kanals of land, said his turnip crop bore the brunt of the dry spell.
“The dry spell has wreaked havoc on most of my turnip crop. It’s unlikely to fetch reasonable rates from buyers now. In the absence of rains and snow, they have dried up,” Nazir Ahmad said.
The arid weather conditions have taken a toll on various crops, including carrots, radishes, turnips and collard greens. Farmers across different parts of Srinagar are reporting financial losses and damage to their agricultural produce.
“Vegetables like carrots, radishes, turnips and collard greens have either dried or turned red due to the lack of rain or snow. All this is causing financial losses to us,” a group of farmers, working in the fields, lamented.
Bulk vegetable buyers, who had entered into early purchase agreements with the farmers, are also counting losses due to the unexpected weather challenges.
This unforeseen challenge has disrupted the agricultural rhythm, leaving farmers grappling with emerging consequences.
With fields experiencing reduced yields and crop failure, farmers have expressed concerns about their livelihoods and are worried about how to sustain their families in the absence of regular precipitation.
“We are witnessing withering fields, reduced yields, and there is an imminent threat to our livelihoods. What will we feed our families when there is no crop?” the distressed farmers asked.
Director of Agriculture, Kashmir, Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal said that the department is closely monitoring the situation. He said an advisory will be issued soon to guide farmers through the ongoing dry spell.
“We are monitoring the situation; this particular crop damage can be an isolated one. There is no denial that dry weather conditions won’t be affecting the vegetable crops, but as I am talking to you, a meeting is underway, and an advisory will be issued,” he said,
Aside from crop damage, the dry spell has resulted in a decline in water levels in rivers and reservoirs. This scarcity of water for irrigation further aggravates the challenges faced by farmers.
