Kashmir’s Rs 10,000 Cr fruit sector left uninsured

Srinagar, May 13: Despite repeated promises by the Jammu and Kashmir government and announcements made in the Assembly regarding implementation of a crop insurance scheme for horticulture crops during the 2025-26 financial year, Kashmir’s Rs 10,000 crore horticulture sector continues to remain outside any formal insurance safety net, leaving lakhs of fruit growers exposed to recurring weather disasters and massive economic losses.

The issue has once again come into sharp focus after severe hailstorms, gusty winds, lightning and thunderstorms caused widespread devastation to apple orchards across north, central and south Kashmir over the past few days.

The horticulture sector is regarded as the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy and contributes nearly Rs 10,000 crore annually to the region’s economy.

The sector directly and indirectly supports lakhs of families associated with apple production, transportation, packaging, cold storage, grading, marketing and export activities.

However, despite its enormous economic contribution and repeated weather-related losses suffered by growers over the years, no comprehensive crop insurance mechanism has been implemented for fruit crops in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the evening hours of May 12, intense hailstorms and stormy winds hit several areas of north Kashmir including Tangmarg, Pattan, Wagura, Kreeri, Rafiabad, Baramulla and Bandipora, besides the Kangan belt of central Kashmir, causing extensive damage to hundreds of apple orchards.

Growers said the hailstorm lasted for nearly five to eight minutes and completely destroyed standing fruit crops in several areas.

Only a few days earlier, similar hailstorms had severely damaged orchards in Shopian and Kulgam districts of south Kashmir.

Fruit growers from affected areas described the damage as “irreparable”, saying the sudden weather event shattered hopes of a productive fruit season this year.

In a joint representation submitted to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, fruit growers’ associations demanded immediate implementation of a crop insurance scheme for the horticulture sector.

The memorandum also sought re-introduction of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), which earlier provided support to growers during distress situations and market disruptions.

The growers further demanded that officials from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKAUST), the Horticulture Department and the Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department be directed to immediately assess losses suffered by orchard owners in affected areas.

The memorandum also sought announcement of a “reasonable and comprehensive compensation package” for affected growers.

Chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union Bashir Ahmad Basheer said the government had repeatedly been approached for implementation of crop insurance and market support mechanisms, but no concrete system has been put in place so far.

“It is unfortunate that despite announcements regarding a crop insurance scheme and allocation of budgetary provisions, the scheme has not been implemented so far. Similarly, the Market Intervention Scheme has not been reintroduced,” Basheer said.

He said the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, which represents fruit growers’ associations across the Valley, had been consistently urging the government to include the horticulture sector under a comprehensive insurance mechanism to safeguard growers during natural calamities.

Basheer said some of the highest quality apple varieties in Kashmir are produced in areas such as Tangmarg, Pattan, Wagura, Kreeri, Rafiabad, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kangan, Shopian and Kulgam — areas that have now suffered major losses due to hailstorms and stormy winds.

“The owners of fruit orchards in these areas are mourning the destruction caused by the hailstorm. Damages to horticulture translate into significant economic setbacks for the entire region,” Basheer said.

The growers’ bodies said nearly 90 per cent of orchard owners in Kashmir are marginal farmers whose livelihoods depend entirely on earnings generated from orchards.

“Poor and marginal fruit growers have to shoulder huge losses without any crop insurance support. Whenever orchards are damaged due to natural disasters, these growers face severe hardships because all their domestic expenses and livelihood depend on horticulture income,” the memorandum said.