Srinagar Sept 16 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Saturday expressed concern over the extensive damages caused to standing apple crops in Shopian district due to overnight hail storm.
Echoing the plight of affected horticulturalists party's Senior leader & Agriculture Committee head Javed Dar demanded compensation for the horticulturalists who have suffered losses.
"Our fruit growers had pinned their hopes on the annual produce. Earnings they would have made would have gone into running their households, and repaying debts, dues and loans. The short but harsh spell of overnight hailstorm spelt doom for them and dashed their hopes. According to the cultivators, ice pellets have caused over 60 percent damage to the crop making it unfit for sale. I hope the administration will lose no time to assess the damages and providing adequate compensation to the affected farmers."
Dar also lamented that whenever natural calamities cause damage to the fruit and crops, the worse affected are assured compensation and even surveys are conducted but no relief reaches to them.
Calling for a comprehensive compensation for the farmers and orchardists who suffered extensive damages due to hailstorm, Javed Dar urged the government to go for immediate assessment of damages to fruit and disburse financial relief to the affected families without any delay.
Reiterating his call for introduction and implementation of Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) in Jammu and Kashmir, Javed said the scheme will save the fruit growers and agriculturists in the event of losses suffered due to natural calamities.(KNS)