Kashmir Valley farmers rue damage to apple, paddy crops by floodwaters

While timely intervention by the Jammu and Kashmir government helped prevent loss of life after floodwaters entered several villages in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district recently, the deluge has caused extensive damage to standing paddy and apple crops across the region.

A breach in an embankment (bundh) along the Jhelum river on the outskirts of Srinagar early Thursday led to inundation of multiple villages in Budgam, with gushing waters entering homes and farmlands, devastating agricultural output.

According to officials, villages affected by the floodwaters include Shalina, Rakh Shalina, Summerbugh, Zoonipora, Seerbagh, and Bagh-e-Shakurshah. A preliminary assessment by the district administration indicates that approximately 2,723 hectares of agricultural land were inundated in Budgam alone.

Of this, in over 1,702 hectares of land, more than 33 per cent of the total crop, primarily paddy, suffered damage, said officials. “We are still in the process of assessing the actual extent of damages, and it may take some time to finalise the reports,” an official added.

For many farmers in the region, the floods have brought devastation at the peak of the harvest season.

“I have four kanals of land (0.5 acres) on which I grow paddy. It’s my only source of income apart from seasonal labour,” said a farmer from Shalina village. “The crop was almost ready for harvest when the floods came. I’ve lost a year’s worth of hard work, food for my family, and income. I don’t know what to do now. I just hope the government comes to our rescue.”

Villagers warn that unless they are adequately compensated, many households may face food insecurity in the coming months.

Reports of similar damage are emerging from South Kashmir as well. In Anantnag and Pulwama districts, officials said both paddy fields and apple orchards may have suffered significant losses.

In Pulwama, floodwaters entered several villages, and officials fear damage to apple crops at various locations. “We are collecting data from the field, and once the survey is completed, we will be able to provide a clearer picture of the extent of damage,” said a horticulture department officer.

On a positive note, Budgam officials on Friday reported “encouraging developments” at the breach site near Zoonipora, noting signs of reverse water flow from the villages back into the Jhelum.

Officials also expressed cautious optimism that if water levels recede quickly, some of the affected crops might be salvaged, reducing the overall agricultural losses.

J & K