Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 29: BJP’s Kashmir unit on Friday urged J&K Governor administration to announce a special package for apple growers who suffered damage due to hail storm.
Party’s Media Incharge, Manzoor Bhat in a statement expressed deep concern about the heavy damage to orchards in south Kashmir Pulwama district due to hailstorm.
“Horticulture industry is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy and apple growers should be compensated as they have suffered a heavy loss due to hail storm,” he said.
Bhat said from the past 20 days, untimely rains and hailstorm have caused heavy damage to apple, cherry, and other fruits. Admn should access the damage and announce a package for the deserving orchardists.
He also urged experts from the Department of Horticulture and Sheri-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) to aware people about scab and other fungicide diseases that have engulfed orchards after the hailstorm.
“We are getting distress calls from all quarters of the people regarding the damage to orchards due to hailstorm, including Pulwama, Kulgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, and other areas,” he said.
Bhat said it is a need of the hour that authorities should come forward to help at this crucial stage and also appealed Lt. Governor, GC Murmu to intervene in the matter so that people will get compensated.
Meanwhile party vice president, Ganderbal Zahoor Ahmed has expressed grave concern over the losses suffered by the fruit grower due to heavy rains and hail storm. He said the fruit growers of valley suffered losses last year too as they could not sell their fruit due to the abnormal conditions and this year the crop suffered damage due to bad weather conditions.
He urged the Government to have a survey and assess the losses to compensate fruit growers accordingly. He also demanded that pesticides, fertilizers and fungicides be supplied to farmers and fruit growers on subsidized rates.
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