Kashmir Fruit Growers & Dealers Association demand declaration of 2026 as disaster year; crop insurance, loan waiver after massive losses
Waris Fayaz
Srinagar, May 23 :
Kashmir’s horticulture and agriculture sector has suffered nearly 30 percent damage due to repeated hailstorms across the Valley this year, leaving growers in deep financial distress and pushing many towards mounting debt, growers on Saturday said.
In a joint press conference in Sopore, President Kashmir Fruit Growers & Dealers Association, Fayaz Ahmed Malik @ Kaka Ji, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said 2026 has turned into a disastrous year for the agriculture as well as horticulture sector, with widespread damage reported from both South and North Kashmir following multiple hailstorm incidents over the past two months.
“Hailstorm havoc has caused nearly 30 percent damage to the Valley’s agriculture and horticulture sector. Thousands of orchardists and farmers have suffered huge losses and are now left with no option except taking loans from banks and other sources,” he said.
Kaka Ji, who heads Asia’s second largest Fruit Mandi, Sopore said more than 12 lakh people associated with the horticulture sector are suffering immensely due to the destruction caused to orchards and crops.
According to Kaka Ji, major damage was reported in Kulgam, Nehama and Shopian areas in April, while hailstorms on May 12 affected orchards in Kreeri, Wagora, Kreeri Kandi belt, Kunzer, Andergam and Lolipora in Baramulla district.
He said another spell of hailstorm on the same day caused losses in Matrigam Bandipora, Dardpora and Sumlar areas.
Referring to the latest hailstorm on May 22, Kaka Ji said orchards in Rafiabad and Zaingeer areas including Bohripora, Chitloora, Hib Dangerpora, Lasser, Yarbugh, Watergam, Behrampora, Arampora Sopore, Seloo and Warpora were severely affected. He added that Hadipora and Rohama villages also reported damage.
He said growers have repeatedly appealed to the government for implementation of a crop insurance scheme, but no concrete action has been taken so far.
“If the crop insurance scheme had been implemented in March, the affected growers would have received compensation by now. We have been demanding it time and again,” he said—(KNO)