Umar Malik (Shopian)
Shopian: Recent bouts of intense hailstorms and gusty winds have caused widespread damage across several areas of Shopian district, inflicting heavy losses on apple orchards and damaging residential properties. Areas including Re Kaprin, Feripora and Motijan have reportedly borne the brunt of the inclement weather, with apple trees damaged and roofs of several houses blown away.
The latest episode is not an isolated incident. Shopian has repeatedly witnessed weather-induced destruction in recent years. Earlier, strong winds and hailstorms in Nowgam and adjoining areas caused apples to fall prematurely from trees, leaving growers grappling with substantial financial losses.
Against this backdrop, farmers have been demanding the implementation of a comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme for more than a decade. Although a bill concerning crop insurance was passed during a previous Assembly session, growers maintain that its effective implementation at the grassroots level is still awaited.
Apple cultivation is widely regarded as the backbone of Shopian’s economy, with the district’s produce enjoying a strong reputation in domestic and international markets. However, recurring climatic disturbances, declining productivity and fluctuating market prices have compounded the difficulties confronting the horticulture sector.
Farmers say that compensation provided after previous hailstorm incidents was grossly inadequate compared with the actual losses incurred. In some cases, growers received only ₹2,000–₹3,000 despite suffering losses running into lakhs of rupees.
The situation has also aggravated the financial burden on growers who have taken agricultural loans and are struggling to repay both the principal and mounting interest. Many farmers now find themselves increasingly trapped in debt.
With erratic weather patterns continuing to threaten orchards, growers have once again urged the government to implement the Crop Insurance Scheme without further delay, arguing that an effective insurance mechanism could provide vital financial protection against crop losses and safeguard the livelihoods of thousands of farming families in Shopian.
