Srinagar, June 3 -- Growers from Chitragam and surrounding areas in Shopian district expressed their anger, saying the relief of only a few thousand rupees is grossly insufficient.
Bashir Ahmad, a fruit grower from Zainapora, said, "This compensation of three to four thousand rupees is like rubbing salt on our wounds. We have lost produce worth lakhs; this relief doesn't even cover the cost of a single fungicide or pesticide."
Ghulam Nabi Lone, another grower from Shopian, demanded a proper crop insurance scheme, saying, "Unless we have a comprehensive insurance scheme in place, our survival will remain uncertain every season. Climate shocks are a regular occurrence, but we get no real support."
Associations representing growers across t...