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Srinagar: Director General Horticulture Kashmir, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (JKAS) on Wednesday visited the various hail storm affected areas of the Kupwara district and took stock of the fruit crops lost by the farmers.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director General said that his concerns and sympathies are with orchard owners who had suffered terribly from the hail storm on October 3.
He also assured the affected farmers that the matter will be taken up with the Government and due compensation as admissible under State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) will be provided. He further advised that farmers should shift towards HD cultivation as the same has protection against Hailstorm in the form of anti-hail net.
He further assured that the Government is committed to bring the fruit cultivation under Fasal Bima Yojna so that the farmers are well compensated and their incomes are stabilized. PRI members and orchardists of the area also demanded that the KCC loan of the affected orchardists should be waived off. Replying to that DG Horticulture assured that the matter will be taken up with the Government.
Later, the Director General Horticulture met Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, who assured that a joint survey of the affected area will be conducted jointly by the revenue and horticulture Department.
The Director General was accompanied by District Development Council (DDC) member Advocate Ulfat, Block Development Council (BDC) Chairperson Azad Ahmad Mir, Chief horticulture Officer Kupwara Tehsildar concerned and other officers of the Department.
