PESHAWAR: Farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have suffered devastating losses due to a recent hailstorm, leaving them struggling to cope with the aftermath.
Reports indicate that the hailstorm over the past three days, severely impacted standing crops and orchards in several districts of the province. In the Gadoon Amazai area of Swabi district, wheat crops were devastated by the hail, while excess rainwater from the storm flowed into the fields, causing significant damage to the crop.
The Malakand division, which includes districts such as Swat, Bajaur, Dir Upper, Dir Lower, and others, also saw extensive damage to apple, peach, pomegranate, and other fruit orchards, resulting in losses worth millions of rupees for local farmers.
Speaking to reporters, Akhtar Ali, a farmer from Swat district, shared that several areas in the region, including Matta, Khwaza Khela, Bahrain, and Barikot, had been severely affected by the hailstorm. In one affected orchard alone, he said, the damage was estimated to be worth several million rupees.
Ali lamented that the provincial government and the agriculture department had not yet visited the affected areas or announced any relief measures, leaving local farmers disheartened and abandoned.
Farmers in the affected areas have called on the government to declare a state of emergency in the region and provide financial assistance to help them recover from the losses. They have also requested that the government provide subsidized seeds and fertilizers to help them as they have lost everything due to extreme weather conditions.
The heavy losses incurred are a reminder of the severe impact that natural disasters can have on communities that rely heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods. As climate change continues to cause extreme weather events around the world, it is essential for governments to invest in disaster preparedness measures and provide support to those affected by such incidents.
