M A I N   N E W S

Hailstorm hurts HP apple growers
Crop damage pegged at Rs 154 cr
Kuldeep Chauhan/TNS

Mandi, April 28
The recent hailstorms has left the apple crop in Himachal Pradesh battered. The state horticulture department today put the loss due to the ‘freak’ weather at Rs 154 crore.

The assessment has been till April 15. The farmers claim that more than 80 per cent of the crop has been destroyed or damaged in areas, which reported severe hailstorms.

The overall loss to the apple crop in the three major belts — Mandi, Kullu and Shimla — is estimated at 50 per cent, said farmers.

The lower and middle altitude orchards have reported a below-average fruit setting (not more than 20-30 per cent of the average crop area), said Laxman Thakur, chairman, ecohorts society, Nandpur.

“It snowed in higher reaches at the time of the bloom in the first week of April, which resulted in a fall in temperature, damaging the bloom and pollination,” said another farmer.

Farmers in Mandi district said the hailstorm has destroyed over 80 per cent of the crop in Seri, Churag, Mahunag, Bhagrot, Karsog, Seraj Thatch belt in Gohar subdivisions. “We have lost hope for the next year too,” Sant Ram Sharma, a farmer from Bhaghrot, lamented.

Deputy director, horticulture (Mandi), Joginderpal, said the hailstorm has damaged 50 per cent of the apple crop in the 1,4600-hec\tare area in the district this month. “The loss has been pegged at Rs 32 crore so far,” said the officer.

In Kullu district, the farmers have lost 40- 80 per cent crop mainly in Kullu, Banjar and Ani subdivisions. The rain and hailstorm are lashing the region almost every day due to western disturbance.

Deputy director, horticulture (Kullu), BS Rana said the total loss suffered due to hailstorm is Rs 30 crore. “We have sent a team to assess fresh damage,” he said.

SS Verma, joint director, horticulture said the total damage to the apple crop in the state till April 15 is Rs 154 crore. Fresh damage is being assessed, he said.

Fruit punch

• The assessment has been done till April 15. Fresh damage is being assessed.
• The farmers are claiming that more than 80 per cent of the crop has been damaged in areas, which reported severe hailstorms.
• The overall loss to the apple crop in the three major belts, Mandi, Kullu and Shimla, is estimated at 50 per cent
• The lower and middle altitude orchards have reported a below-average fruit setting