Danishwar Hameed
After years of struggle and repeated pleas, Kashmiri apple farmers’ demand for an insurance scheme has finally been addressed by the government. The Jammu Kashmir administration announced that the Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) is now fully implemented across the region, providing financial protection against crop losses caused by unforeseen events.
According to the Minister for Agriculture Production, the scheme—initially launched in 2016—has now been extended to all districts, covering apples under a Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS). Farmers in Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, and Budgam will now benefit from insurance coverage, along with financial assistance under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), which has allocated ₹997.85 crore for the horticulture sector in these districts for the financial year 2024-25.
This development comes as long-overdue relief for farmers, who have suffered devastating losses over the past five years due to market fluctuations, untimely precipitation, prolonged lockdowns, highway blockades, and, most recently, duty-free imports of American and Iranian apples.
Shabir Ahmed, an apple farmer from south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, welcomed the move but remained cautiously optimistic. “For years, we have been struggling. The cost of production has been rising, but prices have been falling. Many farmers were forced to sell apples for as low as ₹350 per box, while their expenses exceeded ₹400. Some even bulldozed their orchards in frustration,” he told The Kashmiriyat.
He hopes that the implementation of the scheme will bring real relief. “If properly executed, this can be a game-changer. Farmers have been on the verge of financial ruin, but this insurance could give them the confidence to continue farming,” he said.
Another farmer from Shopian, Mohammad Shafi, expressed cautious hope. “The government has made announcements before, but implementation has always been the issue. If this really works, it will save many families from devastation,” he said.
The Jammu Kashmir government on Wednesday stated that the Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) has been implemented across the Union Territory to provide financial support to farmers facing losses due to unforeseen events.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Reyaz Ahmad Khan, the Minister for Agriculture Production, as reported by the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said:
“The Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) has been implemented in Jammu Kashmir for the benefit of farmers with the objective of providing financial support to those suffering from crop loss or damage arising out of unforeseen events. The scheme aims at stabilizing the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming, encouraging them to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices, ensuring credit worthiness, promoting crop diversification, enhancing the growth and competitiveness of the agricultural sector, and protecting farmers from production risks.”
The minister stated that the scheme was adopted through SAC Decision No. 50/07/2016 dated 31.03.2016 and was implemented via Government Order No. 134-Agri of 2016 dated 05.04.2016. It was formally introduced through G.O. No. 265-Agri of 2016 dated 16.11.2016. In the first phase, the scheme was implemented in 10 districts of Jammu and Kashmir (Jammu Division) for a period of two years (2017-18). Later, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was implemented in four districts—Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, and Anantnag—from 2021 to 2024.
In Kharif 2023, the scheme was extended to all 16 remaining districts of Jammu and Kashmir, and the contract is valid until 2026. The scheme is now operational at the block level across the entire region.
Responding to a separate query from MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay, the minister highlighted the significance of horticulture in Jammu and Kashmir’s economy and announced the restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) for horticulture. “Under this scheme, Apple and saffron have been notified for insurance coverage in Kashmir Division and in Jammu Division, mango has been notified for six districts (Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Udhampur, and Reasi), Litchi has been notified for five districts (Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Reasi), while tenders for the participation of insurance companies have been floated to facilitate the implementation of the scheme,” the Minister replied.
Additionally, the minister announced that ₹997.85 crore has been allocated to the districts of Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, and Budgam under various sectors of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) for the financial year 2024-25.
He further added that subsidies on machinery and equipment are being provided in accordance with the guidelines of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, including the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM).
While the official announcement is a step forward, farmers are waiting to see how effectively the scheme will be enforced and whether it will provide the much-needed security to Kashmir’s apple industry. Many stress that previous policies have been poorly executed, and without proper implementation, the insurance scheme may not deliver the relief they desperately need.
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