Baramulla 14 May : Yasir Naik, District Youth President Baramulla of the Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed serious concern over the massive losses suffered by fruit growers due to the recent devastating hailstorm across various areas of Kashmir.Yasir Naik stated that horticulture is the backbone of Jammu & Kashmir’s economy, generating nearly 10,000–15,000 crore annually and supporting lakhs of families directly and indirectly. He said the recent hailstorm once again exposed the vulnerability of Kashmir’s fruit growers, especially apple orchard owners, who face repeated destruction every year because of climate-related disasters.He said that a single hailstorm lasting only a few minutes destroys the hard work of an entire year and pushes growers into financial distress. Areas across Baramulla, Sopore, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, and other horticulture belts have witnessed severe orchard damage, causing huge economic losses.Yasir Naik demanded that the Government of Jammu & Kashmir immediately launch a comprehensive Anti-Hail Protection Mission on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh, where anti-hail net systems are being widely adopted with substantial government subsidy support.He said anti-hail net infrastructure is currently the most scientifically proven and effective solution to protect orchards from recurring hailstorm damage. He added that Himachal Pradesh has already implemented large-scale anti-hail net systems over the last decade, while Kashmir continues to suffer repeated losses every year.Yasir Naik highlighted that installation of anti-hail net systems costs several lakhs per hectare, making it impossible for small and middle-class fruit growers to afford without government intervention. He demanded 80–90% subsidy support for orchard protection infrastructure in vulnerable horticulture zones of Kashmir.He further stated that the 50 crore crop insurance allocation in the recent J&K Budget is insufficient when compared to the scale of recurring losses suffered by fruit growers. He emphasized that compensation after damage is not enough, and the government must focus on preventive infrastructure instead of only post-disaster relief.The PDP youth leader also demanded:• Immediate special compensation for hailstorm-affected growers• Dedicated anti-hail net subsidy scheme for Kashmir orchards• Fast-track crop insurance claim settlement• Climate-resilient horticulture policy for J&K• Expansion of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage facilities• Modern weather forecasting and early warning systems for growers• Interest-free horticulture loans for affected orchard owners• Village and cluster-based orchard protection projectsYasir Naik said that the future of Kashmir’s economy is directly linked with the survival of its horticulture sector and warned that continued neglect of fruit growers will severely impact rural livelihoods, employment, and the overall economy of Jammu & Kashmir.He urged the administration to treat the recent hailstorm devastation as an economic emergency for Kashmir’s horticulture sector and take immediate preventive and financial measures to safeguard fruit growers from future disasters.
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