SRINAGAR: Apple orchards in Zainapora constituency suffered hailstorm damage during the current year, while the Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered an inquiry into reports of premature apple fruit drop in the area, officials said in a reply to the Legislative Assembly.
The Agriculture Production Department said details of the hailstorm damage and compensation proposed for affected orchardists had been compiled in an annexure to the reply.
The department said affected growers in the concerned villages had also been advised to apply online through the MIDH Suraksha Portal for financial assistance or subsidy under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) to install anti-hail nets.
The measure is intended to protect apple orchards from hailstorms and reduce crop losses caused by such weather events in the future.
On reports of premature fruit fall, the government said the problem had been reported from various parts of Zainapora constituency. Growers had suspected that the premature drop was associated with the use of certain fungicides.
The government has ordered an inquiry to establish and analyse the root cause of the reported problem.
An inquiry committee comprising the Director Horticulture Kashmir and the Director Law Enforcement, J&K, was constituted through Government Order No. 324-JK(APD) of 2026 dated July 16, 2026.
The inquiry report is awaited, the department said.
The government did not specify in the reply the estimated losses arising from the reported premature fruit drop or any action against manufacturers, sellers or distributors, pending the findings of the inquiry.
