Gone with the wind: Fruit farmers suffer losses in the wake of storm

Peach, plum, apricot orchards uprooted by raging winds.

MINGORA:

The recent wind and hailstorm which killed four and injured over 29 people also wreaked havoc on the agriculture sector in Swat, destroying peach, plum and apricot orchards.

Though the raging winds caused damage to orchards and fields all across Swat Valley, Barikot tehsil and Matta were the worst-hit areas.

Abdul Akbar, an orchard farmer from Barikot, suffered heavy losses because of the storm. His peach produce was ripe and ready to be sent to the markets when the storm shattered his hopes of making a profit.

“Our peach yield was very good and we were expecting a solid profit because peach prices were higher than last year’s. But the storm left many of our trees uprooted. They are lying scattered on the ground, completely useless,” Akbar told The Express Tribune.

The Swati plum and apricot were also ready to be picked, shipped and shelved; now only 40% of the total produce will reach the markets.

“An eight-kilogramme pack of good quality apricot and plum is being sold at Rs600 to Rs700 – enough profit for us. Now I don’t think we will even meet our costs with the fruit left in our orchard,” complained Saeed Khan, a plum orchard owner from Matta.

According to the district agriculture office, orchards have incurred an estimated 30% loss due to the anomalous weather.



“Though we are unable to pinpoint the exact amount (of loss) at the moment, a survey will be conducted soon. However, our rough estimates say some 30% peach production and 40 to 60% plum and apricot production has been affected by the storm,” explained Mohammad Sadeeq Khan, an agriculture expert. In addition, standing wheat crops have also suffered considerable damage in terms of both quality and quantity, added Sadeeq.

Orchard owners in Swat have asked the newly-elected government to help them compensate their losses.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2013.