Farmers Demand Timely Compensation After Hailstorm Ravages Orchards in Kashmir
Srinagar: Following a sudden hailstorm that wreaked havoc on orchards across various parts of Kashmir, particularly in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, fruit growers are demanding immediate and effective compensation from the government, lamenting years of delays and hurdles in the relief process.
The recent spell of erratic weather, including hail and strong winds, damaged apple and other fruit-bearing trees in several villages. Shopian, known as the apple bowl of Kashmir, has been among the worst-hit districts, with scores of orchardists reporting heavy losses just ahead of the flowering season.
While the administration has swung into action with the usual damage assessment surveys, farmers on the ground remain skeptical of any meaningful relief. “Every time a natural calamity hits, officials conduct surveys with cameras and clipboards. But compensation never comes on time, sometimes it never comes at all,” said Ghulam Rasool, a fruit grower from Zainapora to the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Several farmers echoed similar frustration, claiming that although damage assessment teams regularly visit their orchards, the compensation process remains riddled with delays and official apathy. “We are asked to fill forms, attach documents, and wait endlessly. In the meantime, loans pile up and produce is lost. We cannot run our homes on surveys,” said another orchardist from Keller area of Shopian.
They said the fruit economy, being the backbone of Kashmir’s agriculture sector, requires proactive support during such calamities, not just paperwork. “It’s the same story every year—hailstorms, losses, surveys, and then silence. The government must put an end to this ritualistic approach,” said fruit dealer Shabir Ahmad.
Growers have urged the administration to expedite the compensation mechanism through a streamlined policy that guarantees timely disbursal of financial relief. They also called for setting up a dedicated disaster fund for horticulture-related losses and emphasized the need for crop insurance schemes that are both accessible and effective.
The Meteorological Department has predicted gradual improvement in the weather, but farmers worry that repeated instances of erratic climate may cause long-term disruption to the fruit cycle this year, adding to their already mounting troubles. [KNT]
