About 60 percent of the citrus crop was damaged due to recent snowfall in the valley of Bhaderwah and the adjoining areas in Doda district, a senior government official said. Bhaderwah, along with Kellar, Pranoo, Shiva, Bhallesa, Dessa, Chatroo and Marmat, experienced heavy snowfall between Thursday and Sunday.
“Nearly 60 percent of the citrus crop have suffered irreparable losses in the latest snowfall, as harvesting season starts after first fortnight of January”, Bhaderwah Horticulture Development Officer Aabid Hussain Tantray said, quoting preliminary information received from the field staff. Putting the loss suffered by the orchards in the snow-bound areas to nearly 60 percent, Tantray asked the farmers not to let snow accumulate on trees.
It is after several years that erstwhile Doda District has witnessed heavy snowfall in November and first fortnight of December and brought cheer to the tourism industry. However, it has turned out to be a bane for locals and fruit growers with losses incurred due to the snowfall touching in crore as 60 percent of the orchards got completely damaged as unripe fruit fell from the trees.
