Srinagar, May 13 : Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar on Wednesday said orchards in several parts of north Kashmir suffered damage due to a hailstorm, while the government has started field assessments to determine losses and compensation under SDRF norms.
Dar said areas in Baramulla, Pattan and Tangmarg were among the worst affected by the hailstorm.
“It is unfortunate that many orchards have been affected due to a natural disaster,” the minister said, adding that the administration had directed the concerned departments during the night itself to begin a preliminary assessment of the damage.
He said teams from the agriculture and horticulture departments visited the affected areas on Wednesday morning and were conducting field surveys.
“Initial assessments indicate damage ranging between 15 to 30 per cent in different areas. Officers are in the field and a complete report is expected by evening,” Dar said.
The minister said compensation would be provided as per SDRF norms once the assessment process is completed.
Dar also said legislators from Baramulla, including Javed Hassan Baig, Farooq Ahmad Shah and Riyaz Ahmad Bedar, met him in the morning and discussed the situation with officials from the horticulture department.
On crop insurance, the minister said the weather-based crop insurance scheme remained the only long-term solution for growers affected by natural disasters.
“We are trying to implement it and the process has reached the final stage. The tendering process has been completed, but there was a delay after the Government of India issued a revised insurance policy, which required changes in our framework as well,” he said.
Dar said apple and saffron crops in Kashmir, along with mango, litchi and other crops in Jammu, had been included under the proposed insurance cover.
“We have also kept a provision of around Rs 50 crore towards the premium from the government side,” he said, adding that the bidding process was nearing completion.
The minister said the government was working to ensure the scheme is implemented at the earliest.(KNS).
