Fruit Growers seek aid after hailstorm devastates apple crop in Shopian

Srinagar, Aug 08: The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union (KVFGD) has urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide compensation and implement a crop insurance scheme for fruit growers in the Shopian district after a devastating hailstorm caused significant losses to the apple crop.According to KVFGD Chairman Bashir Ahmad Basheer, the hailstorm that swept through parts of Shopian on August 7th has left 50% to 70% of the apple crop fully damaged. The sudden and untimely weather event has dealt a severe blow to the fruit orchard owners in the region, which is a crucial part of Kashmir’s economy.The climate has severely impacted the thriving fruit industry, which is a significant pillar of Kashmir’s economy,” said Basheer. “The absence of a crop insurance scheme has added to the woes of the fruit growers who have suffered irreparable losses due to this natural disaster.”The KVFGD, which is the elected umbrella body of all fruit growers associations in the Valley, has been consistently appealing to the government to include the horticulture sector in a comprehensive crop insurance scheme. Despite government announcements, the crop insurance scheme is yet to be implemented, leaving the fruit growers vulnerable to weather-related calamities.