Kashmir farmers say paddy yield down by 40 per cent this year

Srinagar, Oct 01 : Farmers across Kashmir have reported massive losses in paddy production this year, with yields dropping by nearly 40-50 per cent.

They blame the prolonged dry spell during the crucial growing months, followed by incessant rains and flood-like conditions just before harvest, for the crisis.

Growers from several districts, who spoke to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the weather pattern this year has devastated their livelihood. “For three consecutive months—June, July and August—there was hardly any rainfall. The crop did not grow properly, and then just when we were expecting to harvest, heavy rains submerged the fields for days together. The paddy fell flat and started rotting,” said Ghulam Nabi, a farmer from Pulwama.

Many said that their produce,