The impact of this week's hailstorms is expected to be felt especially in Nagpur district. Almost every year from January to March there are reports of hailstorms damaging crops, especially oranges. The degree and area of impact varies, but the losses occur each year for a section of farmers. The vicious circle goes on and the state government promptly conducts a survey and compensation is paid out.
This time, according to preliminary reports, the next crop of oranges, which arrives in October, has been severely damaged in the affected pockets. Large scale losses have been reported in tehsils like Katol, Kalmeshwar and parts of Narkhed. The losses are not as much as in Amravati, which is also a traditional district for growing Nagpur oranges, said sources.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com