Snow-hit apple farms face ₹500-crore loss in Valley

snowfall in Kashmir has caused massive damages to the Valley’s biggest trade fruit — apple.

At places, matured fruit trees have been completely damaged, and many growers who had delayed their harvesting lost their yield to the nature’s fury.

While trade representatives and fruit growers claimed that the loss could be over ₹500 to ~1,000 crore, the horticulture department officials – who were on Monday out for on-the-spot assessment – said they are still collecting details on the losses.

Fruit is considered one of the J&K’s biggest trade with over 2.5 million people directly or indirectly attached to the trade and it has an annual turnover of ₹5,000 to ~6,000 crore.

Manzoor Qadri, director horticulture, said: “This time, I can’t give any figure about the loss, but growers have suffered heavy damages in south Kashmir and also in some parts of north Kashmir. The loss is high in south Kashmir compared to other parts of Kashmir.’’

He said that he visited many orchards in Anantnag and Shopian since morning where trees have lost 60-70% fruit bearing capacity. “Our teams will estimate and then quote a figure which will be authentic. The losses are too heavy in south Kashmir.’’ The growers also lost harvest as at many places especially in south Kashmir and Kupwara where they had delayed harvesting. “The main reason was that leaves were still on trees and many growers hadn’t plucked the fruit.’’

Bashir Ahmad Bhat, chairman, All Valley Fruit Growers Association – an amalgam of all fruit bodies of Kashmir – said when the snowfall began, almost 20% crop in south Kashmir was still on the trees. “We lost hundreds of apple-bearing trees and if we calculate the losses, it’s going to be over ₹1,000 crore.’’

Bhat said they had been urging for implementation of the fruit insurance from last 20 years.

“Our demand for fruit insurance was never given a priority.’’

Ashiq Hussain, president, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said after collecting details from the stake holders and various fruit association bodies, snow caused loss of over ₹500 crore.

Ashiq said statement from the governor is a welcome step in which he said losses will be compensated. “I lost over 60 matured apple-yielding trees. Next year, my earning will come down to mere 20-30%.

I don’t know how my family will survive as my apple orchard was only through which I use to earn my livelihood,’’ said Ghulam Nabi Dar, 65, who lives five km from Pulwama. Sana Masood, chief executive officer, Farm2U group – that has an expertise in setting high density plantation – said the firm has issued an advisory how to save orchards which had suffered from the early snow.