Snow hit orchards
Hundreds of orchards across South Kashmir have been hit badly by untimely snow and the quantum of damages is very heavy forcing these orchardists to appeal to the government for compensation.
In Kulgam district a team of the horticulture department visited snow hit orchards and tried to assess the damage caused by the early snowfall. Even Director General Horticulture, Kashmir recently visited various snow hit orchards of Kulgam district viz. Chawalgam, Nihama, KB Pora, Khul, Ahmadabad, Noorabad Waripora, Mirhama, Kulgam, DK Marg etc. and took stock of the situation.
He said that the Department has already issued a detailed advisory in this regard and urged the farmers to follow the advisory in letter and spirit.
He said that there are strict instructions from the higher ups of the government regarding assessment of damage caused due to the untimely snowfall. He accordingly directed the field functionaries to comply with the instructions and report the same within the stipulated time.
Orchardists have been pleading with the government that the compensation should be prompt so that they can start the remedial measures like setting right their orchards before the onset of the winter as they have no money to do so and it will have an impact on the health of these orchards in the coming season.
Untimely snow has not only damaged the trees and orchards laden with fruit but it has also smashed the dreams connected with it of thousands of villagers as they were looking for handsome returns from the markets.
