Kashmir apple growers renew push for tailored crop insurance

Srinagar, Nov 9: Fruit growers have urged the government to immediately introduce a comprehensive crop insurance scheme exclusively for apples to safeguard growers from mounting losses due to erratic weather and natural calamities.

Chairman of the All Kashmir Fruit Growers Union, Bashir Ahmad Basheer, said that unseasonal snowfall, hailstorms, wind damage, and heavy rains have repeatedly devastated orchards in the Valley, leaving thousands of growers in financial distress. “Apple growers are facing huge losses every year because of unpredictable weather. We strongly demand that the government come up with a dedicated insurance policy for the horticulture sector, especially for apples, which are the backbone of Kashmir’s economy,” Basheer said.

He added that despite being a high-value crop, apple cultivation in Kashmir remains uninsured in any meaningful way.

“Existing schemes under PMFBY are designed for paddy and maize, not for temperate fruits. Our demand is for a specialised policy that covers damages from snow, hail, frost, and excessive rain, with fair compensation and timely claim settlement,” Basheer added.

Farmers from different districts echoed the same concern. “One snowfall in October is enough to break branches and ruin the entire crop,” said Ghulam Ahmad, a grower from Shopian. “Without insurance, we are left to face losses on our own.”

Another grower, Mohammad Yousuf from Sopore, said the government must design a practical, region-specific policy. “We want a transparent digital system for assessment using drones and weather data. The compensation should reach us within weeks, not months,” he said.

Growers also sought government subsidies on premiums, inclusion of transit and storage losses, and easy enrolment through banks and horticulture offices.

“The fruit industry sustains lakhs of families in Kashmir,” Basheer stressed. “A proper crop insurance scheme will not only protect growers from losses but also restore confidence in the horticulture sector.”

The Union has appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir administration to take immediate steps before the next apple season to prevent further economic setbacks to the Valley’s key industry.