GANDERBAL: Now the bewildering time for contractors, fruit growers across the district, the heavy damage has been caused due to heavy rain, hailstorms to the cherry crop in the Ganderbal areas including  Manigam, Benhama, Lar, Watlar and Yarmukam Arhama areas in this Central district. The stormiest rainfall, wind and hailstorm on Friday afternoon as per the reports available has left large quantities of fruits in district especially the cherry crop damaged in this central district Ganderbal. Contractors, fruit growers fear downturn in the market due to the damages, ahead of the harvesting season for famous variety of the cherries.

 

“The stormiest rain and hailstorm in the district on Friday has done heavy damage to one of the cherry varieties, locals said. The growers fear that the cherry variety will fetch lower rates as the crop has developed cracks now. “We were expecting bumper fruit crop this year, but heavy damage of crops have dashed our hopes. May is the month when the first fruit of cherries starting pull off from trees, whereas the stormiest rain, hailstorm have damaged the fruit of Cherry and apple flowers also,” said Showkat Ahmad a contractor. 

 

Horticulture is the mainstay of the economy in Kashmir besides  Ganderbal in cherry crop, the maximum people people associated with this sector. Kashmir’s fruit season starts in May when first crop of cherry is harvested. It is followed by pears and other fruits which is likely to hit the market in the following of heavy hailstorms in district. Now the fruit growers appealing the state government to depute their teams to assess the damage caused by heavy rains and hailstorm. They also demanded compensation to the affected farmers and fruit growers.