Srinagar, May 25: J&K Peoples Conference senior vice president and former minister Abdul Gani Vakil on Thursday expressed concern over the damage caused to apple orchards and vegetable crops due to hailstorms in the upper belt of Rafiabad.
“The heavy hailstorm has created havoc and has totally destroyed apple orchards and vegetable crops, incurring huge losses to farmers and fruit growers of the area,” he said in a statement.
According to the statement, Vakil on Thursday toured several areas of Rafiabad including Braman, Kutru Naribal, Balhama, Brandub, Paizalpora, Kangroosa, Hachapora and Panzala and expressed sympathies with the affected people of the area. He demanded a special economic package for fruit growers and farmers who have already heavy losses in the last five years.
“Whenever natural calamities cause damage to the fruit and crops, the worse affected are assured compensation and even surveys are being conducted, but no relief reaches the affected farmers,” he alleged.
Vakil urged the government to go for an immediate assessment of damages to fruit and vegetable crops and disburse financial relief to the affected families without any delay as they have already suffered heavy losses.
“Waiving the KCC loan is the need of the hour at this crucial juncture which can be helpful to a great extent in reviving the horticulture sector which is in shambles,” he said.
