Shopian, Oct 14 (KNO): Apple growers across south Kashmir's Shopian district said they are facing mounting financial losses as repeated hailstorms since April have damaged fruit quality. Many orchardists said they were forced to sell their produce at significantly lower prices, with some struggling to find buyers.
Growers told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the damage had become more apparent during harvesting and grading, with a substantial portion of the crop losing its market value.
In some severely affected pockets, orchardists estimate losses of 90 per cent or more and said the rest is not of good quality and is being sold at throwaway prices.
Growers said even apples that remain suitable for consumption are fetching low prices because hail marks and blemishes affect their grading and marketability. Many fear they may not recover even the money spent on fertilisers, pesticides, labour and other orchard operations.
"The fruit is being sold at throwaway prices, and in some cases, we are struggling to find buyers willing to offer reasonable rates. We spend throughout the year maintaining our orchards, but the damage has left us unable to recover even our basic costs," said an orchardist from the affected areas.
Shabir Ahmad, an orchardist from Mandujan Shopian, said repeated hailstorms had severely affected the quality of his produce.
"A large portion of the apples has developed hail marks and is being downgraded. The difference in prices between good-quality and damaged fruit is substantial, and growers are bearing the losses despite having invested heavily in the crop," he said.
In Amshipora, growers expressed concern that the damaged harvest would leave them struggling to meet household expenses and clear payments to labourers and suppliers. They said the losses had upset their financial calculations for the season.
"We invest money on pruning, spraying, fertilisers and labour with the hope of earning a reasonable return during harvesting. But when hailstorms damage the fruit, the prices fall sharply. We are worried that the earnings from this season may not even cover the cultivation expenses," said another grower from Aherbal hamlet of Kulgam.
Orchardists from other hail-impacted areas also said that the actual impact was becoming clear as the apples were picked, sorted and graded.
The financial impact extends beyond orchard owners, as the apple industry provides seasonal employment to labourers, transporters, packaging workers and traders. Lower prices and reduced demand for damaged fruit could affect earnings across the horticulture supply chain.
In Kashmir, thousands of families depend on horticulture for their livelihoods. Growers said losses during the season could affect their ability to meet household expenses and invest in their orchards for the next crop cycle.
Orchardists have urged the authorities to provide compensation to eligible growers under applicable relief provisions, saying the few hundred per Kanal being offered is nothing but rubbing salt on their wounds.
"We appeal to the authorities to provide proper relief to affected orchardists. Farmers cannot bear the entire burden of damage caused by repeated hailstorms on their own," growers said.
President Fruit Growers Association Kashmir Bashir Ahmad Basheer told KNO that this year quality produce has fetched good returns, however, growers living in areas hit by hailstorms have suffered heavy losses and the government has failed to compensate them properly.
"There were several hailstorm attacks this year, due to which losses were heavy," Basheer said, adding that the government must take care of such areas and implement a crop insurance scheme so that growers do not have to face such things every year—(KNO)