Floods destroy over 55,000 kanals of farmland in Anantnag; Paddy crop worst hit

September 13, 2025 by News Desk

File Photo/ Firdous Qadri~ TK

Suhail Dar

Torrential rains and flash floods that swept through south Kashmir between August 27 and September 3 have left Anantnag’s agricultural landscape in ruins, submerging fields, destroying standing crops and washing away irrigation infrastructure. Officials say that nearly 2,800 hectares, or more than 55,350 kanals, of farmland have been affected, with around 2,200 hectares of paddy cultivation bearing the heaviest losses.

The assessment is ongoing as teams move across the district to record the full scale of destruction, officials told The Kashmiriyat.

“Between August 27 and September 3, around 2,800 hectares (55,350 kanals) of agricultural land in the district suffered damage due to floods, and our assessment is still ongoing,” said Shahnazwaz Ahmed Sheh, Agricultural Officer Anantnag, in conversation with The Kashmiriyat.

He added, “About 2,200 hectares of paddy cultivation has suffered damage, as per the ongoing assessment in Arwani, Bangidar, Jablipora and around 35 areas in total. Some are already registered in the Crop Insurance Scheme and many farmers are not. Our teams on the ground are assessing the losses. We request the farmers to give an assessment of losses to our officers, and nobody other than agricultural officers should be given information to.”

Vegetable belts, including Gund Chehl and Bangidar, along with maize crops in upper areas, have also suffered significant damage. In the lower reaches, paddy fields remained submerged for days, leading to losses of up to 100 percent in several locations. Sheh noted that the government has been approached regarding the losses and compensation would be provided according to official directions. “Overall, vegetable belts including Gund Chehl, Bangidar and other areas, maize crops have also suffered damage in upper areas and in lower areas, paddy fields remained submerged in water, which has caused damage up to 100 percent to the crop in several areas. We have taken up with the government and the government will compensate the losses as per government direction,” Sheh said.

He also highlighted that farmers are being informed about the upcoming Rabi season and how they can benefit from government schemes. “We are also trying to inform the farmers of the upcoming Rabi season and how they can benefit from schemes,” he added. Sheh emphasized that while 33 percent loss is the threshold for considering a crop officially damaged, in most affected areas the losses far exceed that mark, often surpassing 90 percent. In vegetable-growing regions, entire crops have been lost.

“33 percent loss is the threshold of considering the crop damaged, however, in most of the areas, the loss is above that and in several areas, the damage is above 90 percent. In vegetable areas, 100 percent crop has been damaged,” he said.

The human cost of the floods is evident on the ground. In Arwani, Abdul Rashid, a paddy grower, surveyed his flattened and silt-covered fields. “I had spent the entire summer caring for this crop. Now it is gone, every grain drowned. We will have to buy rice from the market, but where will the money come from?” he asked, his voice heavy with despair. Rashid had not registered under the Crop Insurance Scheme and feared that compensation, if any, would arrive too late to help him sow the next crop.

In Bangidar, vegetable grower Zahoor Ahmad spoke to The Kashmiriyat from the ruins of his tomato and brinjal plots. “The water came suddenly. Within hours, my crops were under water. When the water receded, everything was rotten. There is nothing left to sell. For us, this is a disaster bigger than we can bear,” he said. Trucks carrying produce to mandis were stranded due to landslides and highway blockages, with many consignments spoiling before reaching buyers.

High-altitude farmers were similarly affected. In Anantnag’s upper belts, maize fields were damaged by landslides and water runoff, which stripped away fertile topsoil. “The soil itself has gone. Even if the government compensates us for this year’s crop, what about the next season?” asked Ghulam Nabi, a farmer struggling to salvage his remaining land.

Officials warn that repeated flooding, often linked to increasingly erratic rainfall and cloudbursts, is placing Kashmir’s farmers in a precarious position. “Every year, farmers face some calamity, floods, hailstorms, drought. Without better irrigation and flood-control measures, farming becomes a gamble,” said a Zahoor Ahmad.

Despite the losses, the government is urging farmers to register their crop damage only with authorized agriculture officers. “Our teams on the ground are assessing the losses, and we request farmers to give an assessment of losses to our officers and nobody other than agricultural officers should be given information to,” Sheh reiterated. The department is also guiding farmers on Rabi sowing, subsidized seed support, and crop schemes to help mitigate future risks.

Yet for many smallholders, the destruction extends beyond this season. Irrigation channels, bunds, and seed stores have been damaged or washed away, while market access has been disrupted. While compensation is promised, farmers fear delays and insufficient support. “The government talks of schemes and relief, but what will we eat this winter?” asked Abdul Rashid, gazing at his ruined field.

The floods in Anantnag have thus exposed the fragility of agriculture in south Kashmir. As water recedes and damage assessments continue, farmers brace themselves for a long and uncertain road to recovery, hoping that promised compensation and guidance will be timely enough to prevent further loss.