Srinagar, Aug 8: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) on Saturday expressed concern over extensive damage to apple orchards caused by the recent windstorm and hailstorm in Shopian district.
AIKS J&K president Ghulam Mohammad Bhat said a team of the organisation visited several affected villages and found widespread damage to orchards, leaving growers facing heavy financial losses.
He said high-intensity winds and hailstones knocked a large quantity of fruit off trees, while some apple trees were also flattened by the strong winds.
Bhat urged the government to immediately procure C-grade apples to provide financial relief to affected growers, many of whom depend on horticulture for their livelihood.
He also called for a comprehensive crop insurance scheme, saying repeated weather-related disasters had increased the vulnerability of apple growers.
“A comprehensive crop insurance scheme is essential to protect apple farmers from the recurring impact of natural calamities and to ensure the long-term sustainability of the horticulture sector,” he said.
