The unprecedented climate changes taking a heavy toll of both agriculture and horticulture sectors of Jammu & Kashmir are throwing up new challenges to farmers both in Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division . As there is no end to long dry spells the timing of which remains unexpected since last several years, the sudden and extreme rainfall in the same season also throws huge challenges to farmers particularly apple growers across Kashmir valley. Even the timing for hailstorms during summer months is different in different districts and situation demands that Deputy Commissioners take stock of the losses caused to crops by hailstorm from time to time. So a much bigger issue is the timely sanction and disbursement of the compensation among the farmers of the hailstorm hit districts announced by the Government for both Kashmir Valley and Jammu division from time to time. Since the response to the losses by the hailstorm has to be quick the assessment, sanctions and disbursement should not become the cause for delays in disbursement of the cash relief among the farmers of the hailstorm hit districts. The damage to crops is not the only loss caused to the farmers but farmers also loose much more due to cloud bursts, flash floods and soil erosion also witnessed due to heavy rains and hailstorms in different districts at different times during summer months. Notably farmers don’t recover the losses caused by hailstorms, cloudbursts, flash floods and even soil erosion. So change in climate conditions resulting in heavy damage to crops in Jammu & Kashmir like many states and union territories of the country year after year demands change in strategy and action plans to mitigate the increasing suffering of the farmers in time.
What demands the immediate attention and intervention of the J&K Government is the fast track process for assessment, sanction and disbursement of relief for the losses caused to both the crops and as well as residential houses of farmers due to cloudbursts, flash flood and soil erosion in hilly districts of both Kashmir Valley and Jammu division. Knowing that survey teams have already assessed the losses the delay in sanction of relief for the losses should not become the cause for delay in the disbursement of relief among the farmers hits by hailstorms, cloudbursts, flash floods and even soil erosion.
Though fears of the loss of lives are also rising in the wake of heavy rains, cloudbursts and flash floods but barring a few deaths in some valley parts and few areas of Doda , Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu division no major loss of life and property has been witnessed in Jammu & Kashmir so for. What demands the immediate attention and intervention of the J&K Government is the fast track process for assessment, sanction and disbursement of relief for the losses caused to both the crops and as well as residential houses of farmers due to cloudbursts, flash flood and soil erosion in hilly districts of both Kashmir Valley and Jammu division. Knowing that survey teams have already assessed the losses the delay in sanction of relief for the losses should not become the cause for delay in the disbursement of relief among the farmers hits by hailstorms, cloudbursts, flash floods and even soil erosion.
