Srinagar, May 23 (JKNS): Minister Javed Ahmad Dar on Saturday said the government has initiated damage assessment and relief measures in hailstorm-hit areas of Kashmir, while announcing that the long-awaited weather-based crop insurance scheme for farmers and orchardists will be implemented from June this year.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to affected areas in the Valley, Dar, according to news agency JKNS, said repeated hailstorms and erratic weather triggered by climate change have badly affected horticulture and agriculture sectors across Kashmir and parts of Jammu.
“Due to climate change, Kashmir and some areas of Jammu are witnessing heavy rains and hailstorms which have caused serious damage to crops in the horticulture and agriculture sectors,” Dar said.
He said officials from various departments have already started visiting the affected areas to assess losses suffered by farmers and orchardists so that compensation and relief can be provided under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms.
“Since yesterday, our departments have been trying to provide assistance and relief to the affected people. Every farmer will get compensation as per the assessment of damages,” he said.
The Minister further stated that the government is actively working on implementing a weather-based crop insurance scheme from June 2026 and budgetary provisions for the same have already been kept this year.
“The crop insurance scheme will be implemented in the first month of June. The government will bear the premium burden for farmers and the process is in its final stage,” Dar said.
He revealed that delays in implementation occurred due to repeated tendering issues and changes in insurance policy guidelines issued by the Government of India.
“We had almost finalized the process last year, but fresh standards and revised policies from the Centre required re-tendering. Now the bids are opening and we expect the entire process to be completed within one-and-a-half to two months,” he added.
The Minister said the government has also taken up the issue of a Marketing Intervention Scheme (MIS) for seedling apples with the Centre to ensure fair pricing and better quality maintenance for apple growers.
Dar also stressed the need for modern scientific farming and encouraged orchardists to adopt anti-hail nets to reduce weather-related losses.
“We are providing 50 percent subsidy on hail nets. Farmers should come forward because professional and scientific farming is the need of the hour,” he said.
He added that under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), traditional and old orchards can also be converted into high-density orchards with financial assistance and subsidies up to Rs 6 lakh per hectare.
The Minister further informed that advisory services, spray schedules and emergency contact numbers have already been issued to farmers by the department and officers are available round the clock for assistance.
“If there is no response anywhere, my number is also available on the website. Farmers can directly contact me as well,” Dar said. (JKNS)
