SHOPIAN: Farmers in several areas in Kashmir haven’t been pruning their orchards after the devastating snowfall last week after their apprehension of losing on any government relief.
The pruning of fruit trees is being done after the fall of leave. However, this year the trimming was yet to start due to delay in plucking of the fruit in wake of prevailing situation.
However, since the devastating snowfall some days back, most of the farmers have delayed to trim their orchards only to wait for government designated teams to visit their orchards to assess the actual damage.
“I appeal growers to start pruning on priority, which could save the fruit trees from further damage in the future from the snowfall,” Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director Horticulture Kashmir told Kashmir Reader.
He further asked farmers to take pictures of their damaged orchards and keep them as a proof to claim any government assistance in the coming days. “The farmers should keep the photographs as proof, rather than waiting for the official teams,” he said, adding, the department would consider their photographs as proof to claim any assistance by the government.
The director further said as per preliminary survey by the officials of horticulture department, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Baramulla have been most affected areas in the Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Deputy Development Commissioner, Shopian Choudhury Yasin told Kashmir Reader that several teams have been formed by the district administration to assess the damages in the area. “Our teams have been visiting different areas to assess the damage,” he said.

Mir Iqbal