SRINAGAR: The worst ever floods in Jammu and Kashmir in over a century has damaged agriculture crops worth Rs 3675 crores in Kashmir.
The agriculture department of Kashmir prepared a report on the damage caused to the agricultural crops across the valley.
“Out of the 3 lakh hectares cropped area in Kashmir and Ladakh, around 1.35 lakh hectares have been fully damaged while the remaining 1.65 lakh hectares have been severely affected due to incessant rains, drop in temperature and diseases,” reveals the report prepared by the Agriculture department.
At least 284 people have died of the floods in Jammu and Kashmir and about 300 are missing. Many areas of Srinagar including posh colonies Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Indira Nagar and Shivpora are still submerged under the flood waters.
“8,54,213 MT cereals, 5,08,492 MT vegetables, 14,02,472 MT fodder , 1773 MT pulses and 11 MT saffron have been damaged. The overall loss to agriculture sector has been assessed as Rs 3675 crores,” the report disclosed.
Besides the crops, the flood has also affected agricultural land and large chunks of land have been washed away.
“On the basis of initial survey, in many areas large quantity of silt has been deposited in agriculture fields, rendering 3811 hectares of agriculture land uncultivable across the valley,” the report states.
It further states that to reclaim the damaged land, extensive soil conservative measures would be required for which a plan to the tune of Rs 453.51 crore has been formulated.
“The damages estimated to the departmental buildings, labs, farms and other infrastructure has been pegged at Rs 24.66 crores,” states the report.
The agriculture department, as per the SDRF norms, has calculated the relief amount due to the farmers at Rs 217.42 crore.