Amid major losses, lack of crop insurance deepens crisis

Srinagar, Sep 03: Devastating winds and a hailstorm that struck south Kashmir’s Shopian and Kulgam districts on Monday once again brought to notice the urgent need for a comprehensive crop insurance scheme in Kashmir.

The storm caused significant damage to fruit-bearing plants during the crucial apple harvesting period and left fruit growers facing substantial financial losses, with no insurance to fall back on.

Kashmir’s horticulture sector, which is the backbone of J&K’s economy, has been severely impacted by the storm.

Despite being a vital industry that supports over 700,000 families directly or indirectly, fruit growers in Kashmir remain outside the ambit of crop insurance schemes available to other farmers across the country.

Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union President Bashir Ahmad Basheer expressed deep concern over the situation.

“The recent windstorm has caused immense damage to our orchards, and yet, we are still without a crop insurance scheme. This leaves us vulnerable to the whims of nature,” Basheer said.

He called on the government to implement the long-promised Crop Insurance Scheme, which has been a longstanding demand of the fruit growers in the region.

Basheer said that despite repeated assurances from the government, the scheme was yet to be rolled out, leaving growers to bear the brunt of natural disasters.

“It is high time that the government fulfils its promises and provides us with the necessary protection. We cannot continue to suffer like this every time a storm hits,” Basheer said.

Fruit growers have also requested the immediate deployment of experts from the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K) and the Department of Horticulture to assess the extent of the damage in Shopian and Kulgam.

“We need experts on the ground to evaluate the situation accurately so that adequate compensation can be provided to the affected growers,” Basheer said.

The recent storm is just the latest in a series of weather-related challenges that have plagued Kashmir’s fruit industry in recent years.

With the fruit sector contributing around 10 percent to Jammu and Kashmir’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the impact of such disasters extends far beyond the orchards, affecting the entire regional economy.

“The government must take swift action to protect this critical sector,” Basheer said. “The livelihood of thousands of families is at stake, and we cannot afford to ignore the importance of the horticulture industry to our region’s economic wellbeing.”

According to officials, although the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was introduced in Jammu and Kashmir as of Kharif 2016-17, its actual implementation has been inconsistent.

Farmers have reported that the crop insurance schemes, particularly for fruit crops, have not been effectively executed over the years, leaving them vulnerable to losses from unpredictable weather events like hailstorms and heavy rains.

“There is a notable reluctance among insurance companies to operate in Kashmir due to the region’s unique agricultural challenges and risks. The unpredictable climate and the high incidence of natural disasters make it a less attractive market for insurers, contributing to the lack of available coverage options for farmers,” Basheer said.