Drought like situation hits Almond produce in Kashmir
Pulwama: Almond growers in almost all areas of Kashmir valley are a worried lot as the region has not witnessed any rainfall during the past four months.
Leading almond growers hailing from different area of Pulwama and Budgam districts said that continuous hot and humid conditions have had an adverse affect on their crop and this year the crop will not yield any benefits for the growers.
“There was no rainfall from the past four months due to which it has affected the quality of almonds. This time round the almond buds have gone dry well ahead of time and their natural ripening has got damaged,” Mohammad Azmat, a grower from Pulwama said.
Riyaz Ahmad, another almond grower from Renzipora area of Pulwama said that most of the growers fearing every year losses due to wet weather during early spring season during the past many years were hopeful that they will have a bumber yield this year.
“But all our hopes have been dashed to ground,” he said.
“As we do not have any alternate source of irrigation for our orchards other than natural rainfall we may end up losing most of the revues this year as the quality of the produce has gone considerably down,” he added.
Nisar Ahmad, another grower from Chadoora area of Budgam said that most of people in his area have grown sick of heaping loses.
“Almond crop witnesses some calamity every year and this year it has been a drought like situation. Most of the farmers here feel that the crop brings miseries for the grower’s rather than any relief,” he added.
“From the last few years wet weather in March and April was effecting almond crop and this year around it is quite reverse as a drought like situation has damaged the crop,” said an official of the horticulture department.
He added that despite technological advancements in agriculture sector there was no fruitful support provided to the growers.
Jahangeer Ganaie
