Rotting apples

The lower belt of Anantnag suffered the most in the July 8 hailstorm. 8220;It was the intensity of the storm that caused the damage. While over 30 per cent of the fruit was damaged and there was defoliation, the rest was bruised and damaged, which will cause it to rot later,8221; said N.A.Wani, Director Department of Horticulture.

Though the department has issued advisories to farmers to check any further damage, the quality of the crop has been badly affected.

8220;The crop from that area will be treated as grade C, which can be used for juices and concentrates and cannot be sold outside,8221; said Wani. In order to minimise the damage to the farmers, the department is likely to make some market interventions to save the farmers from debts. The department is assessing the extent of damage in the affected villages so that some relief can be provided. 8220;Early next month, we will procure the fruit from these farmers at Rs 5 a kg. This will provide them some respite,8221; he said.

Besides apples, walnut, the second biggest fruit crop, was also damaged in the hailstorm. 8220;Most of the fruit was on trees and wasn8217;t ripe, so the damage is severe,8221; said Wani.

This hailstorm was the second consecutive storm that affected fruit production this year. Earlier in May this year, heavy rains and hail damaged cherry, plum and apricot crops.