Losses are mounting for Himachal farmers as frequent hailstorms still batter orchards in the main apple-growing regions of the state. Apple growers have suffered losses to the tune of ₹30 mln (€330,000) up until now, not counting the damage done to stone fruit crops.
Inclement weather conditions this time have dashed the hopes of farmers, who were expecting good returns after last year’s lean season, that was impacted by Covid-induced lockdowns.
Devender Sarswati, a retired government official who owns an apple orchard in Shilaru in Theog subdivision: “Weather this time is quite unpredictable. Jagged hailstones hammered the crops between Shilaru and Matiana on Wednesday evening. Hardly any crop is left now. Orchards bore the brunt of spring snow in April and the damages were way too intense,”
The hailstones extensively damaged the anti-hail nets used to cover the apple plants.
Untimely snowfall in the last week of April and repeated hailstorms have broken the backbone of apple farmers, said Harish Chauhan, president of Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Growers Association. He said the government estimated the crop losses at only ₹25 mln, whereas the intensity of the damage was much high. “The government only assesses crop losses. The farmers never get compensated,” he told hindustantimes.com.