Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmad Dar in an interview highlighted key challenges facing the Union Territory’s agriculture and horticulture sectors, including the status of a proposed crop insurance scheme, demand for a market intervention mechanism for apple growers, climate change impacts, pest infestations, shrinking agricultural land, expansion of high-density apple cultivation, and plans to revive the region’s saffron sector.
Jammu and Kashmir does not have a crop insurance scheme for crops such as apples, litchi and saffron. Why has the government failed to introduce one?
We initially attempted to roll out the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme and invited bids from insurance companies. However, only one company responded, as the challenging weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir discouraged wider participation. Subsequently, more companies joined the bidding process and the L1 bidder was identified. However, we later received a communication from the Central government regarding revisions to the insurance policy framework, prompting us to put the process on hold. We have already made budgetary provisions for the scheme and are hopeful it will be introduced in the coming months.
