Kashmir Fruit Growers’ Association writes to LG Sinha on snow devastation

Srinagar, Oct 23: Kashmir Fruit Growers’ Association has written to LG Manoj Sinha, asking for his personal intervention to address the after effects of the devastating losses to Kashmir’s fruit industry to the untimely snowfall.

Besides appealing for immediate loss assessment and technical support from government universities and departments to the affected farmers, the Association has asked for a relief package for the sector.

Ziraat Times here reproduces the full text of the letter without any editing:

His Excellency,

The Lt Governor,

J&K(UT)
Raj Bhawan Srinagar

Subject: Untimely heavy snowfall completely destroyed fruit orchards in Valley-Fruit Growers/Dealers are extremely anxious

His Excellency,

The undersigned would like to apprise your goodself that the untimely heavy snow and rainfall have damaged and destroyed apple crop in all fruit orchards of the Valley particularly in Kulgam and Shopian districts of South Kashmir and North & Central Kashmir as well. In fact the harvesting of apple crop is nowadays in its full swing and the “A Grade” of Delicious Quality type of Apple bearing plants were under harvesting and 50% of “A Grade” type of apple crop was still on plants and yet to be harvested in Kulgam and Shopian in directs of South Kashmir and 30% in central & North Kashmir. The Fruit orchards of North and South Kashmir were looking very attractive while the Valley Based fruit Growers and Dealers were expecting some relief in terms of good return but the heavy snowfall and raining resulting considerable dip in temperature and also fall of apple from Apple plants dashed, therefore, all expectations of Valley Based Fruit Growers/Dealers to ground. It is unfortunate that the untimely heavy snow and rainfall has also been one of the “Worst” experiences for Horticulture Sector with unbearable losses to Valley Based Fruit Growers/Dealers who are otherwise also suffering heavy losses since last several years due to one or the other reason. The branches of apple bearing plants of all fruit orchards of the Valley particularly in Kulgam and Shopian of South Kashmir and North and Central Kashmir as well are found maximum broken causing heavy losses when it takes 10-15 years for a plant to produce crop. The Valley Based fruit Growers/Dealers are afraid of having lost their livelihood.

Since there is no mechanism to measure the exact quantum of losses, but losing our basic parameters, we peg the recent losses due to untimely heavy snow and rainfall to Horticulture Sector in Crores of Rupees.

Under the circumstances explained above your Excellency is requested that:

1. The SKAUST Kashmir, Director General, Horticulture Development Department, Srinagar and Director, Horticulture P&M, Srinagar may kindly be directed to depute their concerned Staff of respective Departments immediately to all affected areas of North, South and Central Kashmir particularly Shopian and Kulgam of South Kashmir for the purpose of ascertaining the losses suffered by Valley Based Fruit Growers/Dealers due to untimely heavy snow and rainfall.
2. The concerned Agencies may also kindly be directed to make all fruit Growers/Dealers of the Valley aware about necessary remedial measures to be adopted in order to avoid any damages/diseases in apple orchards.
3. Since the Valley Based fruit Growers/Dealers are extremely worried of their losses due to recent untimely heavy snow and rainfall and therefore, request your goodself kindly initiate for immediate financial package for the facility of Fruit Growers/Dealers.

With great regards,

Yours Sincerely,

(Bashir Ahmad Basheer)

Chairman

Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union

President

The New Kashmir Fruit Association