Apple growers and orchardists across Kashmir await the compensation promised by the administration for the damaged apple crop due to untimely snowfall in October.
The season’s early snowfall has caused damage to both apple trees and fruits in the Kashmir valley, especially in Shopian district of south Kashmir.
More than 90 percent of the population of Shopian, which is also called the ‘Apple Town’ of Kashmir, is directly dependent on horticulture sector. While, a large number of population from Kulgam and Pulwama is directly or indirectly dependent on horticulture sector, particularly apple.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had said that the farmers who suffered immense losses due to the untimely snowfall will get all possible assistance from the government.
“The government will provide all possible assistance to the farmers who suffered losses due to untimely snowfall,” Sinha had said while talking to media persons after inaugurating Apple Festival at SKICC. He also added that a committee had been constituted in this regard, which had been asked to come up with the exact figure of losses.
Abdul Khaliq, an orchardist from Kulgam, talking to The Kashmiriyat said that the orchardists have been managing things on their own. And that they had to take loans in order to buy fertilizers and pesticides.
“It’s been more than two months since the untimely snow destroyed our crop. The administration had announced compensation for the damage that befell us. But we have been pushed to deal with this crisis on our own. We don’t have any hopes from the administration,” Khaliq said.
Khaliq, while talking to The Kashmiriyat, said, “We are farmers. Our livelihood depends on farming. For the administration, we, the poor do not exist. They never provide a helping hand.”
Meanwhile, The Kashmiriyat contacted the Director General Horticulture, Jammu Kashmir Administrative Services (JKAS), Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, who said, “They (farmers) have received the compensation and should approach their concerned District Commissioners (DCs) if they have any queries.”
The orchardists from the ‘Apple Town’ Shopian also alleged that no field survey was done in order to estimate the damage caused by the untimely snow.
Abdul Gani, a farmer from Chitragam, Kalan of Shopian, said that administration’s words about compensating for the loss were empty. “They just said those things, verbally, about compensation. On ground, however, they did nothing.”
“They always deceive innocent people. Field survey was important but the concerned department did not visit for any survey,” alleged Gani.
The Kashmiriyat asked the Director Horticulture about the Field Survey. He said, “We have already done the survey.”
Challenging claims made by the Director Horticulture, however, Gani said that the concerned authorities should provide proof that the field survey was conducted. The concerned authority had conducted the survey in 2 or 3 villages, and not in the other villages, he said.
“The concerned authorities claim that the compensation has been approved. If it is so, shouldn’t they have asked for our account numbers? This is all a lie,” alleged Gani.
However, Director Horticulture, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat denied the allegation of not conducting the field survey. “Our field survey workers had done the survey. I myself surveyed on 23-24 October,” said Bhat.
Talking to The Kashmiriyat, Bashir Ahmad Mir, another orchardist from Shopian said that no compensation had been provided, so far. He said that he suffered a damage of around ₹1 million due to the untimely snow.
“We had spend a hefty sum of money in purchasing pesticides, fertilizers, grafting of trees and other things. We appeal to the administration to provide us some compensation, so that our financial problems lessen.”
Mir also alleged that no survey was conducted. He said that the administration makes promises but does not fulfill them.
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