Baramulla:The untimely fresh spell of snow has caused a huge loss to apple trees and fruit and vegetable crops in Kashmir valley leaving farmers in despair.
“A huge chunk of apple orchards and un-plucked apple crop besides vegetables fields got damaged due to early snowfall in kashmir”, said Mudasir Ahmed of Panzla Rafaiabad whose apple orchard suffered damage as they were yet to pluck major chunk of ripe apple crop.
“Due to climate change, we have been facing unfavourable weather conditions from past several years causing huge losses to apple growers and orchard Ist, “said Parvaiz Ahmed another farmer.
According to the preliminary estimate, more than 25 per cent of apple crop which is unluckiest have got damaged due untimely snow,”said President Fruit Gowers and Buyers Association Fruit Mundi Sopore Fayaz Ahmed Malik alias Kakaji.
” Not only this, around 200 truck laden with apple got stranded on Srinagar-Jammu highway and our apple couldn’t reach Delhi on Diwali festival inflicting huge losses as the fruit will rot in trucks, Kakaji told Kashmir Images on phone.
“We took the matter with concern authorities and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to allow the trucks to travel but nothing happened, we are pushed to wall lights,” rues Kakaji.
From north Kashmir to south, the apple orchards present a picture of broken apple trees with fruit either dropped on the ground or hanging on broken branches, said Abdul Rashid, a farmer from Rafiabad.
The apple trees had suffered a huge damage due to heavy load of snow piled up on the leaves and fruit, he added.
“We are assessing the damage, but most of the apple trees and fruit, crop have been damaged in snowfall in the valley”, a Horticultural officer said.
