Manali, Sep 24 (NationPress) Farmers in the harsh, cold desert of the isolated Lahaul Valley in Himachal Pradesh, traditionally abundant in vegetables like high-value exotic broccoli and lettuce, are suffering significant losses as their cash crops decay in the fields.

The underlying cause is the prolonged delay in restoring road access by the government, following numerous landslides that repeatedly disrupted the Keylong-Manali-Kullu-Mandi highway throughout August and September.

Public transport and tourist vehicles also faced extended delays. BJP leader and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, who initiated a two-day visit on Wednesday to the arid Lahaul Valley, which relies on glacial-fed streams for its single annual crop, shared in an interview with IANS that crops such as cauliflower, peas, potatoes, broccoli, and lettuce are left to rot in the fields.

“Due to the government's failure to restore road connectivity in a timely manner, primarily due to gross negligence, many farmers chose not to harvest their crops. The sight of rotting cauliflower, broccoli, and peas is prevalent, and villagers reported that no government representative visited to evaluate their losses,” the Leader of Opposition informed IANS.

He emphasized that since the farmers rely on a single annual crop, their economic situation has been severely affected.

“The state government must step in to compensate the farmers for their failure to reopen the roads,” he stated.

Thakur noted that this year saw a bumper harvest of cauliflower in Lahaul.

“Now, the crops are decaying in the fields, raising concerns about potential epidemics. Farmers have incurred losses amounting to millions of rupees. How will they be compensated? The government's response demonstrates a lack of awareness regarding the extent of the damage. They must take decisive action in this regard.”

Annually, a significant portion of vegetables, particularly peas and cauliflower, from the arid Lahaul Valley reach markets in northern India, where prices are favorable due to the impact of monsoon weather on vegetable production in other areas.

Lindur village is on the brink of collapse due to severe erosion, leading to demands for the relocation of its inhabitants. Thakur indicated that cracks have appeared in homes in Lindur due to heavy rainfall, rendering the village unsafe for residents.

The Lahaul Valley has a cultivation season of less than five months, spanning from May, characterized by cold, arid conditions, scarce rainfall, and significant snowfall.

Rainfall is sporadic from May to September.

Lal Singh Negi, a pea grower near Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti, mentioned to IANS that the valley typically experiences minimal rainfall.

“This year, unlike the unusual monsoon of 2023, there has been excessive rain, causing many mud houses to develop cracks. The frequent rains have also lowered temperatures, adversely affecting overall crop yields.”

The area dedicated to vegetable cultivation, now a key agricultural focus, covers around 2,200 hectares. However, locals are optimistic about the upcoming harvest of high-value apples.

Grower Jiwan Thakur stated that the apple harvest in Lahaul has yet to commence.

“We hope our apples will reach the markets without any hurdles. They will help mitigate the losses from vegetables.”

Horticulture experts note that the harvesting of premium, delicious apples from the Chango, Ribba, and Namgiya valleys of Kinnaur and Hurling in Lahaul and Spiti, which dominate the Indian market, begins at the end of October.

The Lahaul Valley, once a hub for producing bitter hops, is now celebrated for cultivating prized seed potatoes, a tradition dating back to 1854 when missionary A.W. Hide from Germany started a farm near Keylong.

This valley, dotted with small villages, produces the country’s pest-resistant seed varieties — Kufri Chandramukhi and Kufri Jyoti — along with ‘Table Santana’ and ‘Shafordi’ varieties used for chip production.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)