The horticulture sector has long been the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, sustaining thousands of families and contributing significantly to the region’s prosperity. Apple orchards are not merely agricultural assets; they are symbols of hope, generations of hard work, and the primary source of livelihood for countless households. Today, however, this vital sector faces an unprecedented challenge from climate change.Over the past decade, Kashmir has witnessed a disturbing rise in the frequency and intensity of hailstorms. Once considered occasional weather events, hailstorms have now become a recurring threat, striking orchards at critical stages of fruit development and leaving devastation in their wake. Districts such as Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, and other major fruit-growing regions have repeatedly suffered heavy losses as hailstones destroy crops within minutes. 

For an orchardist, an orchard is far more than a piece of land covered with trees. It is the........

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