PDP stages protest against authorities’ indifference to crop losses in Shopian
Demands crop insurance, compensation for orchardists and relief
Srinagar, August 16 (KMS): In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) staged a peaceful protest at Ghanta Ghar in Shopian against the authorities’ indifference to severe crop losses caused by recent hailstorms and demanded urgent relief for affected orchardists.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protesters called for the inclusion of apples and cherries under a reliable crop insurance scheme and demanded fair and immediate compensation for growers whose orchards suffered extensive damage due to unseasonal hailstorms.
The protesters also demanded subsidies for anti-hail nets and relief from soaring electricity tariffs on agricultural connections, saying the rising cost of inputs and power was adding to the financial burden on farmers and orchardists.
Recent heavy hailstorms swept through several villages of Shopian, damaging apple orchards, shattering cherry crops and causing significant losses to local livelihoods.
The PDP leaders and protesters criticized the authorities for failing to adequately address the plight of affected orchardists and stressed that horticulture remains a major pillar of Kashmir’s rural economy. They warned that continued weather-related losses without timely government support could push thousands of farming families into deeper economic distress.
They urged the authorities to immediately assess the damage, provide timely compensation and introduce long-term measures to protect the horticulture sector from recurring weather-related disasters.
