Plum harvesting has begun across the Kashmir Valley with the onset of July, marking the arrival of the season's second major fruit crop after cherries, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. However, a sudden hailstorm that swept through the village of Warwan in south Kashmir's Pulwama district has left a significant percentage of the crop bruised and pockmarked, affecting market value.
Hailstorm Damage and Farmer Losses
Abdul Gaffar Malik, a grower from Warwan, was expecting a bumper harvest until the hailstorm struck. Now, like many others, he is struggling to find buyers willing to pay a fair price. "We are forced to sell the harvest at throwaway prices," Malik said, noting that bruised plums fetch far less than premium-quality produce. The damage extends beyond immediate financial losses, as Mushtaq Ahmad, another farmer, said erratic weather has also affected cherries and apples.
Plum Cultivation and Key Districts
Plum cultivation in Kashmir extends over more than 1,500 hectares, with the valley producing nearly 8,000 metric tonnes annually. The fruit is an important income source for hundreds of farming families, particularly in:
- Pulwama
- Shopian
- Budgam
- Srinagar
Orchards in these areas contribute significantly to household earnings during the summer months, as reported by The Hindu BusinessLine.
Weather Patterns and Climate Concerns
According to an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the valley recorded 10 to 12 hailstorm spells over the past two months, damaging a range of fruit and vegetable crops. The official stated: "Climate change is real. We witnessed unusually high temperatures in February, followed by a sharp decline. Such wide temperature fluctuations have affected crop growth and fruit development." A horticulture official in Budgam said no significant hail storm-related damage was reported in the district, but noted that orchards in other parts of the valley that experienced severe hailstorms may have suffered crop losses.
Outlook for Growers
Farmers expressed fear that unless better crop protection measures and weather-risk mitigation strategies are introduced, recurring extreme weather events could make fruit cultivation increasingly uncertain, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of horticulture-dependent families across Kashmir. The reported situation highlights the vulnerability of the region's horticulture sector to climate variability, with potential implications for supply of premium-quality plums to markets.
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