Rain, hailstorm damage crops in Uttarkashi

Ajay Ramola

Tribune News Service

Uttarkashi, April 26

Unseasonal rain accompanied by hailstorm damaged crops, especially apple crop, and left farmers with a sinking heart and uncertain future in Uttarkashi district yesterday.

The fresh spell of rain and hail in the district on Saturday damaged flowering apple crop, spelling doom for apple growers of Naugaon, Barkot, Ranibag, Saundari, and Syuri fruit belt, Dhari-Kafnol, and Kansola.

The worried farmers said the flowering season of apple was on and untimely rain and hail had damaged apple tress considerably. All hopes of getting a good apple produce this season had been lost, said a farmer shaking his head in despair.

Heavy snowfall this winter had made farmers hope for a bumper apple crop as snow is considered good for the fruit, but the recent spell of rain and hail damaged the crop, leaving farmers crestfallen.

Besides apple producers, vegetable growers are also feeling the pinch due to untimely rain and hailstorm in the region. “Wheat, guava, apricot, tomato and potatoes growers have also suffered extensive losses,” said Pawan, a resident of Sunargaon.

The farmers in the region are demanding adequate compensation for their crop losses before it is too late. Barkot SDM RK Pandey said a survey of damaged rabi crop was being done and a few farmers had been compensated for their losses. He, however, said there was no separate compensation process for apple growers though several NGOs had insured the crops of farmers, thus minimising their losses this year.