October 31, 2025

South Kashmir apple growers are battling one of the worst seasons in years, hurt badly by fierce hailstorms and heavy floods. In June, a fierce hailstorm bombarded orchards in Handew, Drawani, Wadipora, Darshalin, and Dachoo villages with chickpea-sized stones for half an hour. Riyaz Ahmad, an orchardist, said, "The hailstorm caused near-total damage to the crop. There was hardly anything worth packing this year." Nearly every apple was bruised, crushing hopes for a good season in Shopian district, famous for fine apples. The region’s economy depends on apples and fruits, with more than 70% of households relying on this industry. But the losses have left many families drowning in debt and unsure about the future. Official data reveals that outstanding agricultural loans in Jammu and Kashmir have crossed ₹11,700 crore, with over 11.13 lakh Kisan Credit Card accounts active. Trouble didn't stop there. In September, relentless rains and floods further smashed apple and paddy crops across south Kashmir. The government told the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly that floods damaged fruit crops on 1,435.6 hectares, affecting 846.2 hectares in three south Kashmir districts. Shopian alone saw hailstorms destroy another 589.4 hectares. The biggest worry? Crop insurance is nowhere in sight. Farmers complain that government compensation is tiny and doesn't cover their huge losses. Ahmad said, "We have no insurance, no safety net. One storm can wipe out an entire year’s livelihood." Some farmers reported receiving only ₹2,000 as compensation. The Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS), started in 2016 along with the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, is meant to protect apple, saffron, and litchi crops. But in Kashmir, it has failed to take off. Despite many tenders, insurance companies are still hesitant. Sartaj Ahmad Shah, Director of Agriculture Kashmir, explained, "We are still assessing the risk factors, yield volumes, and past claim patterns before making a final decision." An insurance company spokesperson, who wished to stay anonymous, added that firms are cautious and some have asked for clarifications. Meanwhile, farmers anxiously await a reliable insurance plan before another disaster forces them to count huge losses again. For now, the sun sets on orchards battered by hailstones and flooded fields, as Kashmir’s apple growers brace themselves against the stormy days ahead.

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Tags: Apple crop loss, Kashmir Floods, Hailstorm Damage, Crop insurance, Farmer Debts, Pradhan mantri fasal bima yojana,