The drought sweeping through part of India's northern Himachal Pradesh State is destroying a major portion of the area’s vegetable crops. Farmers and nursery growers face a tough time ahead.

Drought in the Kandaghat area of India's northern Himachal Pradesh State is destroying a large amount of the vegetable crops there.

More than 60 percent of the crops have been damaged, delaying transplantation in the area.

The Solan belt is popularly known as the area of Red Gold, due to its tomato production.

Farmers are worried that this year they may suffer heavy losses.

[Inder Singh, Nursery Grower]: (male, Hindi)
"I am a nursery grower and as you can see, my area - the majority of my area is empty because of the drought. When it rains only farmers come to us and they take plants from us, and now, when we start working only when it rains and otherwise we are idle."

The drought has already damaged this year’s capsicum, eggplant and tomato crops.

[Ram Singh, Farmer]: (male, Hindi)
"Our cash crop is tomato, capsicum and cauliflower and our economy depends on these vegetables. Because of the drought all our crops have been damaged. By this time, we usually start with the tomato crop but this year everything is finished."

The nursery owners are worried that if there are no timely rains, farmers will not be able to produce any cabbages, cauliflowers or tomatoes for this year.