SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir suffered crop damage due to unseasonal rains and extreme weather conditions during the 2025 monsoon season, with 1,239 hectares of agricultural land affected, according to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The information was provided in response to a question in the Lok Sabha. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the losses were reported between April 1 and July 14, 2025.
Major crops affected in the region include wheat, maize, paddy, barley, and various horticultural produce. However, district-level details were not specified in the response.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), over 9,500 farmer applications were insured in JK, covering an area of 5,500 hectares. As of June 30, the government had disbursed Rs 2.7 crore in claims, benefitting insured farmers who suffered yield losses due to adverse weather.
In contrast, Ladakh recorded no crop damage during the same period, and no compensation or claims were reported. However, 14 hectares were insured under crop insurance schemes, indicating growing awareness and participation by Ladakhi farmers in risk mitigation.
The government clarified that disaster relief primarily falls under the responsibility of state governments. However, in cases of severe calamity, central assistance is provided through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), based on assessments by Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs). Jammu & Kashmir, like other states, can utilise the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for immediate relief measures. (KNO)
