Srinagar, May 26: Several political leaders and farmer organisations on Friday expressed anguish over the losses incurred by people due to continuous heavy hailstorm and intense rains in north, south and central Kashmir areas. They sought compensation and insurance schemes for farmers and orchardists.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president and Member of the Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah in a statement said, “The sudden and heavy hailstorm they swept through dozens of villages across north Kashmir has left a trail of devastation by damaging orchards and various other standing crops. The sheer degree of damage to standing crops, public infrastructure and private properties makes it imperative for government agencies to step in and provide relief to the affected. I urge the district and divisional administration to depute revenue teams to assess the losses to people so that the amount of compensation is worked out and distributed forthwith as well.”
Lamenting the “non-implementation” of the Crop Insurance, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the restructured Weather-based Crop Insurance Schemes in Jammu & Kashmir, he said that the farmers and orchardists will heave a sigh of relief if these schemes are implemented.
Pressing for full MSP as compensation, Dr Farooq demanded that compensation to the affected farmers should be given on the basis of MSP.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) expressed concern over losses urged the authorities to provide compensation to affected farmers. In a statement, the party spokesperson said that hail storm and gusty winds have caused huge damages to crops and orchards.
“The farmers and orchardists in various districts of Kashmir have suffered huge losses due to unprecedented hailstorm, gusty winds and heavy rains,” he said.
The DPAP spokesperson appealed to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to direct the concerned officials to assess the losses and to announce a special financial package to the affected farmers, orchardists who have suffered extensive damages due to hailstorm, winds and heavy rains that caused havoc in Kashmir.
Former cabinet minister and Apni Party’s senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir in a statement said, “The damages to the crops and fruits have been caused, especially in many parts of north and central Kashmir, causing heavy damages to farmers.”
He demanded an official assessment of the losses, “which should be followed by adequate compensation to the affected people”. Mir appealed to the LG administration to ensure the official teams are immediately sent to the affected areas to assess the losses and provide compensation swiftly to the sufferers.
Chairman J&K Peoples Democratic Front (JKPDF) and former minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen has also demanded adequate compensation in favour of the affected farmers. In a statement, Yaseen said, “The government should immediately come to the rescue of the affected farmers for their livelihood and to save them from starvation.” He demanded supply of free ration to the farmers whose crops and fruit has been completely damaged by the hailstorms.
Hakim also said the KCC loans of the hailstorm-affected farmers should be waived off.
Senior leader J&K Kisan Tehreek(JKKT) Ghulam Nabi Malik has demanded immediate relief to the peasants and orchardists whose crops and fruit got damaged due to heavy hail and wind storm in several parts of the valley.
Malik demanded implementation of grower-friendly Crop Insurance Scheme, saying that the orchardists, farmers will heave a sigh of relief if the scheme is implemented on ground. The scheme will save the fruit growers and agriculturists in the event of losses suffered due to natural calamities.
Demand for anti-hail nets is picking up since Kashmir has been constantly witnessing hailstorms for the last few years. These nets can be used for both high-density and traditional apple trees to reduce losses.
“Since anti-hail nets are expensive and not affordable for common growers, demands these anti-hail nets to growers at 75% subsidized rates,” Kisan Tehreek said.
