Flood-hit farmers may seek large loans

livemint.com:

MANALI/KULLU : Distressed fruit and vegetable growers in Himachal Pradesh are considering taking out huge loans for the next crop cycle after floods devastated farm produce. Floods and incessant rain in July not only damaged the infrastructure of the state but also affected the quality and quantity of crops such as apple, plum, pear, tomato, cauliflower, beans, capsicum, chilli, cabbage, eggplant, peas and broccoli, causing huge losses. Himachal Pradesh ranks second in apple and almond production in the country.

The state, called the ‘fruit and vegetable bowl of India’, is also one of the largest producers of off-season vegetables and exotic fruits like persimmon and kiwi. Ranjit Singh Rana, a farmer based in Katrain, cultivated a 3-acre piece out of a total of 4-acre farmland. “Persistent heavy rains causing flooding in the Beas River on 9 and 10 July put more than 2 acres under water, damaging 80-90% of tomato, cauliflower, beans, capsicum and cabbage at their flowering stage," the fruit and vegetable farmer said.

Because of the crop damage, Singh has incurred losses of around ₹1.75 lakh, he said. In the case of fruit, crop quality was badly hit, forcing growers to sell their produce at a lower price. Puran Chand Thakur, a 65-year-old fruit grower based in Banu village, had to sell his crop of plums for ₹15,000 against the original value of ₹135,000.

Royal variety apple prices are now quoted at ₹30-50 a kg, against the normal price of ₹60-70 per kg in key wholesale markets of Kullu, Manali, Lahual and Mandi, according to traders. Thakur had to sell not only plums but also apples, pears and Japani or Persimmon fruits at half price because of their limited shelf-life. “I had cultivated fruits across 15.5 acres, of which