Nature’s fury costs J&K Rs 209 Cr in crop damage, reveals Govt
Srinagar, Oct 27: Jammu and Kashmir has reported estimated crop losses worth over Rs 209 crore during 2025 due to unseasonal rains, hailstorms, and cloudbursts that ravaged large swathes of agricultural and horticultural land across the Union Territory, leaving thousands of farmers distressed.
The figures were revealed by the Agriculture Production Department in its reply to Un-Starred Assembly Question No. 534, raised by MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma, who had sought details of crop damage and compensation disbursed, particularly in Kishtwar district, one of the worst-hit areas.
According to the department’s written response, total damages—covering crops, livestock, fisheries, horticulture, and infrastructure—were pegged at Rs 209.214 crore. The assessment report has been submitted to the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department (DMRRR) and the General Administration Department (GAD), in compliance with directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
As per the official data, a total of 75,997.32 hectares of cropped area was affected across J&K. The Jammu Division bore the brunt with 69,707.69 hectares damaged, while the Kashmir Division recorded losses across 6,289.63 hectares.
In Kishtwar district alone, damage to 5,605.50 hectares of land was reported.
Under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms, compensation is admissible at Rs 8,500 per hectare for rain-fed areas and Rs 17,000 per hectare for irrigated areas. Additionally, an input subsidy of Rs 1,000 per farmer is provided to those whose sown areas have sustained verified losses.
The department informed that Rs 647.98 lakh has so far been disbursed to affected farmers across J&K, including Rs 635.79 lakh for agricultural crops and Rs 12.19 lakh for horticultural crops. In Kishtwar district, Rs 5.11 lakh has been released—comprising Rs 5.07 lakh for agricultural crops and Rs 0.04 lakh for horticultural produce.
Officials said that disbursement for remaining verified cases is underway and that the administration is committed to ensuring compensation under the SDRF framework reaches all eligible farmers.
