Snowless winter puts Rs 10,000 crore Kashmir’s fruit industry in peril
Srinagar: Kashmir – known for its enchanting winter vistas, is currently experiencing an unusual and disconcerting phenomenon – a snowless winter.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this climatic anomaly has cast a dark shadow over Kashmir’s thriving Rs 10,000 crore fruit industry, raising serious concerns within the Valley.
The apprehension gripping the area stems from the fear that the absence of snow, coupled with erratic weather patterns, poses a significant threat to the vitality of the fruit industry.
The year 2023 proved to be a challenging period for Kashmir’s fruit sector as it bore the brunt of climate change.
Now, as the winter of the current year unfolds, the concerns of farmers have intensified further.
Chairman of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Association, Bashir Ahmad Basheer expressed concern over the current climatic conditions, saying, “The stark absence of snow, coupled with a drastic decline in precipitation, paints a worrying picture for the upcoming harvest. There is apprehension about another season being marred by a snowless winter.”
He emphasised the critical role of winter snow, explaining, “Winter snow is a must as it provides crops a chilling period and also keeps the soil moist, ensuring irrigation facilities during the hot summer months. However, when there is no snow, there is a total change in the weather pattern, leading to crop destruction and substantial losses for farmers.”
Reflecting on the challenges faced in 2023, Basheer says, “In 2023, our losses were 40 percent as weather patterns led to an increase in scab and also damaged crops.”
Another prominent figure in the farming community, Muhammad Ashraf Wani, a fruit grower and former president of Fruit Mandi Shopian, expressed concern over the current winter season.
“We are deep into Chillai Kalan – the harshest leg of winter – and still there is no snowfall. It is a cause of worry for the farmers’ community,” Wani says. “Apart from spurring water shortages, the dry spell will significantly affect the yield and quality. The warmer temperatures could also precipitate early flowering of stone fruits,” he added.
