Click to play videoVijaypur (J&K): Om Parkash Gupta was a tailor for 40 years till he turned a strawberry farmer. In 2004, Gupta was sent by the state government to Mahabaleshwar to study strawberry cultivation.
His eight kanals of land now grows the berry but Gupta 's farm, and that of many others, is facing the brunt of unseasonal rains and extended winters.
Horticulture officer, Vijay Kumar says, “There has been hailstorm and extended winters which has completely destroyed the fruit is most of the areas.”
Strawberry cultivation, which started with only 50,000 plants in 2004, shot up to 30 lakh plants last year.
But it dropped by 10 lakh plants this year. That's not surprising as farmers, who suffered crop losses, say even last year's compensation has not been released yet.
“Over 75 per cent farmers have backed out. If they suffer losses of Rs 1 lakh, where will they pay from?” asks Gupta.
The state horticulture department says strawberry is highly perishable. Hence farmers have been advised measures to check crop losses. But they are again expensive
Director, Horitculture, MS Qasba says, “We have asked them to use hail nets, shade nets and that’s how they can protect themselves against weather.”
Kandi belt of the region was nothing but dry arid land till strawberry fruit brought it back to life. Now the tender berry is against a harsh weather and farmers hope they don’t bear too much damage.
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