Stating that heavy hailstorm on Saturday wrecked havoc to the fruit crop in several parts of Kashmir, Chairman Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) Hakeem Yaseen urged the Lt Governor GC Marmu to sanction adequate relief to the affected farmers immediately.
In a statement, Yaseen saidthe hailstorm storm hit many areas including Khansahib in Budgam, causingextensive damage to the fruit crop thereby inflicting heavy financial losses onthe fruit growers.
He said the damage causedto the fresh fruit due to the hailstorm has given another serious blow to thelivelihood of the farming community whose financial conditions were alreadyunder tremendous stress post August 5 last year.
Yaseen urged the governmentto come to the rescue of the affected farmers and fruit growers and waive offtheir KCC loans immediately so that they can have a sigh of relief to someextent.
“While Kissan Credit Card (KCC) loan waiverwould give respite to the affected fruit growers to some extent they should alsobe provided free fertilizers, hybrid seeds and other agriculture inputs so thatthey could carry alternate farmpractices, ” Yaseen said.
He said the farmingcommunity especially fruit growers and traders have become the first causalityof the unfavorable conditions in J&K, post August 5 last year. He said thefruit traders were bearing the brunt of prevailing lockdown, as they wereunable to sell their fruit consignments placed in various cold stores of thecountry.