Inclement weather hits kinnow yield, growers seek compensation

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Rampura (Fazilka), April 20

Recent spells of rain and strong winds have wreaked havoc on kinnow trees in Fazilka, Abohar and its adjoining areas in the Punjab’s citrus belt.

At least, 20 per cent of the fruits, which were at the setting stage, have dropped from the plants. The yield is likely to be affected, farmers claimed. The kinnow orchards cover at least 12,000 hectares in this citrus belt and it’s the mainstay of the local economy.

Nirmal Singh and Gurcharan Singh both farmers of Rampura village near Abohar, said high velocity winds had not only affected the kinnow orchards, but also wheat, grams, mustard and other horticultural crops in the area.

They claimed that the production of kinnows in the winter season would decrease by 25 per cent.

“The kinnow plants were at the fruit setting stage. The fruits had formed just a few days ago, therefore they could not withstand the high velocity winds and hailstorm,” said Chotu Gaur another farmer of the area.

The farmers said dropping of fruits at the tender stage could be more in villages, which were hit by hailstorm. Thus, the range of damage may vary as the impact of inclement weather conditions was also different at distances across the citrus belt.

The thunderstorm accompanied with a wind speed of 50 to 70 km per hour had hit the citrus belt of Punjab, adjoining the Rajasthan state.

The weather office had earlier issued warnings to the farmers advising them to use hail nets and mechanical support to protect vegetables and young fruit plants. It also warned farmers that kinnows, sweet lime and other fruits might fall from the trees due to hail and wind.

The kinnow growers have demanded from the state government to calculate their losses and give adequate compensation. “If the government is giving monetary relief to wheat growers for their losses due to natural calamities, then the farmers growing fruits and vegetables must also be compensated under the same policy,” said Shinda Bhadu, a farmer growing fruits and vegetables.