Protect livelihood

For Kashmir’s fruit growers, the changing weather is no longer a seasonal challenge but an economic disaster. Repeated hailstorms and strong winds sweeping across north and south Kashmir have once again exposed the deep vulnerability of the Valley’s horticulture sector, which remains the backbone of the region’s rural economy. The latest hailstorm that battered orchards in Baramulla, Sopore, Rafiabad, Tral and Shopian has left behind scenes of devastation. Orchards turned white under intense hail while developing apples fell from trees within minutes. For growers already struggling after earlier storms in April and May, the latest destruction has pushed thousands closer to financial ruin. What makes the crisis more alarming is the absence of a reliable safety net. Despite repeated natural disasters over the years, Jammu and Kashmir still lacks a comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme for horticulture. Equally concerning is the continued absence of the Market Intervention Scheme, which once provided crucial support to growers during periods of distress. Without institutional protection, orchardists, most of whom are small and marginal farmers, are left to bear massive losses alone. Horticulture is not merely an agricultural activity in Kashmir but sustains lakhs of families directly and indirectly. Entire rural economies revolve around apple production, transport, packaging and trade. When orchards suffer, the economic shock spreads across villages and markets alike. The government must move beyond routine assurances and undertake immediate ground assessment of losses in affected districts. More importantly, there is an urgent need to introduce a viable crop insurance mechanism tailored to Kashmir’s horticulture sector and restore the Market Intervention Scheme. Climate uncertainties are becoming more frequent and intense. If growers continue to face repeated disasters without financial protection, debt and distress will deepen further. Protecting Kashmir’s orchards today means protecting the livelihood and economic stability of the Valley tomorrow.