Srinagar, Jan 24 (KNO): The much-awaited season's first significant snowfall has brought relief and renewed optimism among the thousands of farmers, along with fruit growers across Kashmir, ending a months-long dry spell that had sparked fears among the people.
Jammu and Kashmir witnessed widespread snow and rain on Friday, marking the first major precipitation after several months of a dry spell.
The snow has been welcomed as a blessing by all, particularly those associated with the agriculture and horticulture sectors, which form the backbone of the region's rural economy.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), agricultural experts said that prolonged absence of rain and snow, besides leading to the drying up of water sources, severely stresses farmlands and orchards.
They said sustained dryness reduces the soil moisture levels and disrupts the natural growth cycle of crops and can have long-term consequences on both yield and quality, mainly for the orchards, which are highly sensitive to moisture availability.
"Extended dry spells deprive the spil of essential moisture, which directly affects flowering, along with fruit setting. Such conditions can significantly lower productivity in the upcoming season," Aamir Yousuf Bhat, a well-known fruit trader and horticulture expert, said.
He said that delayed and uneven germination of crops due to moisture deficiency leads to reduced output. However, its impact will be less now as snowfall has eased these concerns to a large extent, he added.
Bhat said the situation had become alarming due to a lack of precipitation, as there was no rain or snow for nearly five months. "Had it not snowed, it would have dealt a severe blow to both agriculture and horticulture," he said.
Most of the orchards in Kashmir are rain-fed and dependent on snowmelt rather than artificial irrigation, and there was no water for irrigation due to a long dry spell, said Dr Umar Mushtaq, an environmental expert.
"This snowfall will now replenish moisture levels and significantly reduce stress on fruit trees, and adequate moisture also helps curb pest attacks," he said.
Dr Umar Mushtaq said that prolonged dry weather poses serious challenges for orchard sustainability by disrupting natural irrigation systems and reducing water availability. This, he said, impacts both fruit quality and yield, and makes them vulnerable to pests and many other diseases.
He, however, added that this precipitation after a long time will replenish the moisture levels and maintain the water table and help in irrigation facilities in summer.
Farmers who had sown Rabi crops were also particularly anxious due to low moisture, thereby delaying seed germination.
With the arrival of snowfall, there is renewed confidence among farmers and orchardists. They expressed relief by saying that the snowfall had come just in time, and the seeds will germinate now.
According to farmers, mustard, an important Rabi crop harvested in April, was also under threat because of the lack of rainfall. They said timely snowfall has now revived the expectations of a healthy crop and better yields.
Those associated with agriculture and horticulture described the snowfall as a need of the hour. They expressed optimism that natural moisture will translate into improved crop performance and better economic returns.
Officials from Public Health Engineering (PHE) department said that the prolonged dry spell has pushed many water sources to critical levels, and even some dried up. "This snowfall gives us hope that water sources will gradually recharge, ensuring smoother water supply and hydropower generation," an official said.
They said it may take a few days for springs and streams to fully replenish, but this snowfall has brought much-needed relief after widespread water shortages across the valley—(KNO)