Long wait of apple growers for compensation

The apple growers hit hard by the huge damages caused to the standing apple trees by a heavy snowfall in November last year continue to be at the receiving end even at the commencement of new horticulture season in Kashmir valley as they are yet to get the compensation for which surveys to assess the damages were conducted by the Government immediately after the November snowfall. Not only the snowfall in November but the hailstorms and cloud bursts in mid summer months last year had also hit the paddy fields and the apple orchards when the crops were in the ripening stage. The improvement in weather situation in mid February in Kashmir valley this year is generating fresh fears of more damages amid an unprecedented rise in day temperatures much before the commencement of the month of March as changing rainfall patterns witnessed in previous years delayed fresh plantations and commencement of farming activities in March months in Kashmir valley. As horticulture a climate-sensitive sector of the economy like agriculture farming is the basis of livelihood for millions of souls in Kashmir, the unprecedented delay in the disbursement of the compensation to apple growers is by all probabilities an irresponsible response to the increasing concerns of the apple growers in valley. While the fact remains that Jammu and Kashmir being a mountainous region, needs micro-level scientific assessment at the district and village levels for effective planning and implementation of measures to combat the challenges thrown by the increasing weather vagaries to the key economic sectors, the government by delaying the compensation to apple growers is virtually tending to belittle them . Unfortunately the Government keeps it’s fingers crossed over the future plans required for economic sustainability of the apple growers and people connected with the agriculture farming in Kashmir.
To expand the key economic sectors of apple industry and agriculture farming in Kashmir, it is imperative for the government to come to the rescue of both the apple growers and as well as the farmers connected with agriculture farming both economically and as well as technologically.
While the compensation to apple growers delayed due to increasing bottle necks in the disbursement process has to be fast tracked for the purposes of reviving the apple trading activities in Kashmir this year, the government has to put on priority the micro- level scientific assessment for effective planning and implementation of measures required for facing the challenges thrown up by climate changes in key horticulture and agriculture sectors. Though agriculture experts many a times in recent years told the agriculture and horticulture departments of the Jammu & Kashmir Government that water availability in Kashmir is manageable in mid summer months if adequate assistance is extended to farmers for water storage but both the agriculture and horticulture departments are yet to wake up from deep slumber. To expand the key economic sectors of apple industry and agriculture farming in Kashmir, it is imperative for the government to come to the rescue of both the apple growers and as well as the farmers connected with agriculture farming both economically and as well as technologically.