Shimla, Kinnaur fruit growers seek relief

The high-velocity winds and hailstorm on Wednesday night caused severe damage to apple and stone fruits in various parts of district Shimla and Kinnaur. While plum growers sustained a lot of damage across the state as much of the fruit fell off the trees, apple growers also suffered massive damage as trees were uprooted.

In view of the losses suffered, the fruit growers are seeking compensation from the government. Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has announced that the department would be asked to assess the losses suffered by the fruit growers.

According to growers, the assessment of the losses hardly leads to any compensation or assistance to the growers. “In 2021, apple growers had suffered massive losses due to late snowfall. The Horticulture Department had assessed the loss at over Rs 250 crore but growers did not receive any compensation,” said Harish Chauhan, president, Fruit, Vegetable and Flowers Growers Association. “The growers suffered losses after that as well due to drought and rains, assessment of the losses were also carried out, but hardly anyone got any assistance,” he said.

Chauhan further said that several youngsters had invested into high-density apple cultivation by raising loans from the banks. “An entire high-density orchard in district Rampur was flattened by the storm. It’s difficult to be bear such losses without any compensation,” he said.

According to growers, the current weather-based insurance scheme benefits only a handful of growers as and when they suffer losses due to natural calamities. “The weather-based insurance scheme in Uttarakhand is much better. The government should implement the same scheme here for the benefit of the growers,” said an apple grower from Rohru.