The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) expressed solidarity with fruit growers of Kulgam and Shopian, whose orchards were devastated by high speed winds lashing large areas across the Kulgam and Shopian on Monday.
The fiery winds knocked off ripened apples from trees across orchards spread over thousands of kanals. Some of the worst hit villages presented a look of carpet bombing on apple orchards leaving hundreds of fruit growers devastated and families heartbroken. It is sad that many small-time growers lost everything, and are left with nothing to liquidate their loans of Banks or advance money taken from fruit traders.
The natural calamity in the shape of High speed gusty winds and Hailstorm destroying apples once again serves yet another warning for need of Crop insurance - a long standing demand of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) and Fruit Growers Associations. In this context the statement of Director Agriculture that the Crop Insurance will be done after March, 2025 is welcome but late in the day.
The KCCI appealed to the LG administration for liberal compensation to the farmers/growers whose crop has been affected. This will provide them succour and help them to look after families during difficult times ahead.
The KCCI demanded that the loss caused due to affected/destroyed crops be assessed on war footing and compensation sanctioned at the earliest.