This weekend, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference expressed concern over the extensive damages caused to standing apple crops in Shopian district due to an overnight hailstorm. The party's senior leader and agriculture committee head Javed Dar demanded compensation for the horticulturalists who have suffered losses.
Javed Dar: "Our fruit growers had pinned their hopes on the annual produce. Earnings they would have made would have gone into running their households, and repaying debts, dues and loans. The short but harsh spell of overnight hailstorm spelt doom for them and dashed their hopes. According to the cultivators, ice pellets have caused over 60 percent damage to the crop making it unfit for sale. I hope the administration will lose no time to assess the damages and providing adequate compensation to the affected farmers.”
