Untimely heavy snowfall badly damages apple orchards. Also, cauliflower, cabbage and potato were ready for harvesting but heavy snowfall covered the entire district.

India, Mandi – 27 Sep 2018 -Farmers of the tribal district of Lahaul Spiti have sought a relief package from the state government as their crops have suffered massive destruction due to heavy snowfall in the valley. A majority of apple orchards have been damaged.

Patan valley, famous for apple production, was badly hit by untimely heavy snowfall, which damaged the apple plants.

In Goshal, Shansha, Kirting and Jahlama villages, known for apple production, farmers are in distress after heavy snowfall.

Ajit Singh, a native of Goshal, said “Untimely snowfall has spelt doom for us as apple orchards have been badly damaged because of heavy snowfall. Apart from apple, cabbage and cauliflower crops have also been damaged. These were ready for harvesting.”

“The worst affected area is Patan valley, where apple cultivation takes place on a large scale. We were feeling helpless as our cash crops have been damaged. These crops were the sole source though which we sustained our livelihood”, he remarked.

In the Chandra valley there was considerable loss of vegetable crop at Khangsar, Gondhla Shooling, Sissu, Koksar and a few other villages, where crop harvesting season was on peak.

Prem Lal of Gondhla village, said “The untimely snowfall has put farmers of the district on the edge as our cash crops have been damaged. Cauliflower, cabbage and potato were ready for harvesting but heavy snowfall has covered the entire district with white mantle. We are feeling helpless. How will be able to feed our family after such huge loss?”

Similarly, farmers of Tod valley and Miyar valley have been hit badly. District Congress Committee Lahaul Spiti has urged the government to compensate the farmers and declare the district a disaster-hit area.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/crops-flattened-lahaul-farmers-seek-relief/659712.html

Apple orchard damaged by heavy snow at the Patan valley in Lahaul.

https://images.tribuneindia.com/cms/gall_content/2018/9/2018_9$largeimg27_Thursday_2018_230603275.jpg

Thanks to Argiris Diamantis for this link