Dreams Drowned in Soil: Devastation of Apple and Cherry Farms in Shopian

Shopian, July 3: Standing amid the wreckage of his once-thriving orchard, Abdul Hammed silently surveys the bruised cherries scattered across the ground — a grim reminder of hopes shattered in moments.

“All my hopes dashed in just a few minutes,” he says, his voice laced with despair.

In the neighbouring Handew village of Imamsahib, dozens of farmers walk through their damaged orchards with misty eyes, struggling to come to terms with the losses.

On Sunday afternoon, dark clouds swiftly covered the skies, and hail began lashing the orchards without warning. Chickpea-sized hailstones pounded the trees for nearly 35 minutes, devastating the apple and cherry crops across several villages.

Besides Handew, the storm struck Dobipora, Wadipora, Alshipora, Drawni, Dassu, and Nagbal — leaving a trail of destruction.

“I have never seen such fury. It left behind a trail of devastation,” Hammed said.

Farmers in the affected areas estimate nearly total destruction of cherry crops and 80 to 90 percent damage to apples.

“Early cherry varieties like Italy were completely ruined. The fruit just dropped as if the trees had been shaken by a giant hand,” said Basharat Ahmad, a cherry grower.

Other varieties like Mishri, though not completely destroyed, also suffered significant damage.

“The loss is enormous. We had pinned our hopes on this harvest, but most of it is gone,” another farmer lamented.

In Wadipora, growers estimate their apple losses to be around 80 percent.

Javed Ahmad, an apple cultivator, described the damage: “It knocked down the apples and stripped the trees of their leaves. Those 40 minutes felt like the longest of my life.”

According to horticulture officials, over a dozen villages were affected by the storm, with Wadipora and Alshipora among the worst hit, facing damage of up to 90 percent.

The official confirmed that both apples and stone fruits suffered 45 to 90 percent damage, depending on location and crop variety.

Shopian, renowned for its high-quality apples and cherries, relies heavily on horticulture, with more than 85 percent of its population dependent on fruit cultivation for livelihood.

Peer Shabir, president of the Pesticides Association, called for immediate compensation. “The farmers have lost everything. The authorities must act swiftly to provide relief,” he said.

Several farmers' associations have visited the affected areas to assess the damage.

Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, president of the All India Kissan Sabha (Jammu and Kashmir), said their delegation visited at least seven villages and found the destruction overwhelming.

“We saw utter devastation,” he said, demanding a waiver of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans and the introduction of a comprehensive crop insurance scheme.

He urged the government to conduct a thorough assessment and announce compensation to help farmers recover.

A separate delegation from the Apple Farmers Federation of India (AFFI) also toured the damaged orchards, interacting with growers and documenting their losses.

“We expressed solidarity with the farmers and emphasised the urgent need for both immediate relief and long-term support,” said Zahoor Ahmad Rather, president of AFFI’s Jammu and Kashmir chapter.

The delegation called on the government to provide prompt compensation and implement measures to safeguard farmers against future calamities.