SRINAGAR: In the wake of the recent hailstorm that caused significant damage to crops in the Chitragam area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, Minister for Agriculture Javed Dar on Tuesday visited the affected fields to assess the situation and express solidarity with the farming community.
Speaking to reporters, the minister, said the government is making all efforts to implement a weather-based crop insurance scheme at the earliest to protect farmers from recurring natural calamities like hailstorms, unseasonal rains, and droughts.
“I am personally following its implementation. The Chief Minister is currently outside JK and will return in the next two to three days. The matter will then be discussed with him,” he said.
Dar emphasised the urgent need for a comprehensive crop insurance policy. “We are committed to ensuring that our farmers do not suffer such losses without financial protection. Work is in progress to roll out a weather-based crop insurance scheme across the region,” he said.
He added that some schemes had been prepared earlier but were not implemented due to the absence of a public government. “There is a need to develop a few more schemes as well,” he said.
Dar assured the affected growers that relief would be provided through multiple channels, including the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), agricultural relief packages, and departmental support programmes.
“Our farmers are the backbone of our economy, and their suffering is our collective concern. The administration is here to support them. We will ensure that compensation reaches every eligible grower affected by the hailstorm,” he said.
During the visit, several farmers shared their concerns, stating they had high hopes for the current fruit and vegetable harvest, which has now been destroyed. They urged the government to expedite compensation and implement the insurance scheme without delay.
“We have suffered heavy losses. The meagre compensation given earlier does not even cover the cost of fertilisers or pesticides,” said Abdul Hamid, a local orchardist. “What we need is a dependable safety net.”
The hailstorm, which struck Chitragam and nearby villages earlier this week, damaged apple orchards, vegetable fields, and standing crops, leaving farmers in distress and raising concerns over climate-related vulnerabilities in the agriculture sector.
The agriculture minister directed officials to carry out an immediate assessment of the losses and submit a detailed report within days to enable timely disbursement of compensation. (KNO)
