Sopore, May 13: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) District Coordinator Baramulla and former Rafiabad candidate Altaf Malik expressed deep concern over the heavy hailstorm that damaged apple orchards, standing crops, and vegetables in several parts of Baramulla district.
Expressing solidarity with the affected orchardists and farmers, Malik said the horticulture sector is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy and the primary source of livelihood for a large section of the Valley’s population.
He said fruit growers in Kashmir are already facing continuous challenges, including repeated natural calamities, the influx of imported apples in markets across the country, and frequent highway blockades during the peak fruit season, which have pushed growers into distress.
Malik urged the government to adopt the policies introduced by late former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for the promotion and modernization of the horticulture sector.
He demanded the immediate implementation of a comprehensive crop insurance scheme, waiver of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans, and a special economic relief package for apple growers across Kashmir Valley to compensate for the heavy losses suffered due to the recent hailstorm.
Criticizing the existing relief measures, Malik said providing “a bag of rice and a bag of fertilizer” to affected families is insufficient and does not address the scale of damage faced by farmers and orchardists.
He appealed to the administration to conduct an immediate assessment of the losses and ensure adequate compensation to the affected growers and farming community.
