Hailstorm and rain ruin standing crops in Solan district

Nursery Today    06-May-2025
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Solan: Natural calamities like unseasonal rain and hailstorms that have lashed parts of the Solan district since Saturday have damaged standing fruit and flower crops. The sudden outburst of weather has broken the hopes of numerous farmers, as they were hoping for a bumper harvest this year. As per the Horticulture Department, the total loss is estimated at about Rs 1.40 lakh crore, with kiwi and apple crops being badly hit. Heavy rain and high-speed winds ruined the polyhouses of seven farmers in Kandaghat, resulting in additional losses worth Rs 7 lakh.

Several stone fruits, such as pears, peaches, and plums, were ready for harvest; unfortunately, rain and hailstorms badly damaged these fruits. As per an estimate, about 566 farmers have lost around 207 metric tonnes of yield. Several farmers were suffering due to poor produce last year, and this year’s damage has made things even worse for them.

The floriculture sector is also on the receiving end. A farmer lost his entire crop of Lilium flowers in Manush Tikri village. These flowers failed to resist the heavy storm. The overall loss is estimated at Rs 20 lakh. The demand for Lilium is high in the market due to its use in decoration, medicinal purposes, and food.

Dr. Shiwali Thakur, Deputy Director of Horticulture in Solan, advised farmers to take quick action. She suggested pruning broken branches and using Bordeaux paste or copper oxychloride to stop fungal infections. She recommended mixing 2.5 to 3 grams of copper oxychloride or 0.5 to 1 gram of carbendazim per litre of water.

The natural calamities once again made it clear that conditions can be changed any moment, severely affecting the horticulture and floriculture sectors in the Solan district. The overall loss has not been finalized; it may increase. Farmers are now hoping to get help from the government for their survival.
 
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