President of the Kashmir Chamber of Horticulture (KCH), Hakim Khalid Ahmed, on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the widespread damage caused to orchards by repeated hailstorms across Kashmir, urging authorities to immediately intervene to prevent panic among fruit growers and farmers.
Ahmed said unabated spells of hailstorm across the length and breadth of the Valley have badly affected horticulture and agriculture, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of growers dependent on the sector.
He appreciated the efforts of representative organisations of the horticulture and agriculture sector, including the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Association, J&K Fruits and Vegetables Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA), and fruit mandi associations of Sopore, Baramulla and Shopian for consistently raising issues confronting growers and farmers amid repeated weather-related losses.
While calling upon authorities to take immediate cognisance of the situation, Ahmed cautioned against allowing the worsening circumstances to trigger panic among stakeholders in the horticulture sector.
He warned that continued uncertainty and repeated weather-related destruction could have serious consequences not only for fruit growers and farmers but also for the broader economy of Jammu and Kashmir, where horticulture remains a major contributor to livelihoods and economic activity.
Ahmed reiterated the need to constitute committees comprising government officials and stakeholders to assess the situation and frame an immediate response mechanism.
“In order to instil confidence among growers, the government must put its available human resource into action and conduct a time-bound assessment of damages caused to orchards so that compensation can be extended without delay,” he said.
The KCH president said that despite repeated appeals by representative organisations, including the Kashmir Chamber of Horticulture, authorities are yet to respond on the long-pending demand for a crop insurance scheme for the horticulture sector.
He said implementation of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) would serve as an important confidence-building measure for growers struggling to cope with losses caused by repeated hailstorms and unpredictable weather conditions.
“This unpredictable situation undoubtedly has severe implications not only for farmers and growers but for the entire horticulture sector,” Ahmed said.
He urged the government to immediately compensate growers to mitigate losses and restore confidence within the farming community. He also called for the announcement of the Market Intervention Scheme as a relief measure in view of the recent adverse weather conditions.
Ahmed further stressed the need for stronger stakeholder engagement, saying regular consultation with growers, traders and representative bodies would help improve morale and instil confidence among the horticulture and farming community.
About The Author
