CHITRAL: A cold wave and incessant snowfall have delayed the advent of the spring season in Chitral.

In the past, the almonds usedtoblossom by the middleof February heralding the start of the spring season.

However, it is likely to occur by the middle of March this time around due to the prevailing intense cold.

The situation is worse in upper parts of the valley compared to its lower and central parts.

The harsh and protracted winter season in the distant valleys of Chitral, including Garam Chashma, Kalash valleys, Yarkhoon, Laspur, Terich and Torkhow, is feared to adversely affect the productivity of wheat, barley and triticale crops, which are largely grown in the area with wheat being the major source of sustenance.

The residents said the prolonged winter season with heavy snowfall cast a pleasant influence on fruits, especially that of apples, pears, peaches, grapes and apricots, and they had always observed a bumper crop in the year with plenty of snow.

They said the impending delay in the cultivation of vegetables would result in the cutback of product as certain alien species of vegetables had been introduced during the last couple of decade that needed ambient temperature after sowing which was not possible this time around.

Haji Karim Bakhash of Torkhow said the people in upper part of Chitral largely depended on cereal crops especially wheat for sustenance, while livestock keeping was another major source of food and income, which depended on crops.

He said in the years of extended winter seasons, the irrigation system was also affected as the irrigation channels in mountainous areas were blocked by snow avalanches in almost every village.

“I have seen very few such harsh and prolonged winter season during my eighty plus years of life in this valley which have brought poverty to the residentsby constricting their agricultural produce,” he said.

The resident said such harsh weather conditions repeated themselves after every 10 to 15years.

He said a number of villages including Kari, Garam Chashma, Sarghuz, Oveer, Terich and Yarkhun were threatened by snow avalanches caused by the bulky amount of snow accumulatedin the hills.

The resident said in the past, a large portion of villages used to be covered by snow until May.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2019