AIP Calls for Immediate Rollout of Crop Insurance Scheme in J&K
11/06/2026
Srinagar, June 10 (KIP)-Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi today urged the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to immediately implement a comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme, saying that the continued absence of an institutional risk protection mechanism has left lakhs of farmers and horticulturists vulnerable to devastating financial losses.
In a statement issued here, Inam Un Nabi said that agriculture and horticulture form the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir's rural economy, with the horticulture sector alone supporting more than seven lakh families and contributing significantly to the Jammu Kashmir's economy. However, despite recurring losses caused by hailstorms, unseasonal rainfall, snowfall, strong winds, pest attacks and other climate-related events, growers continue to remain outside the ambit of a functional crop insurance framework.
He said that while farmers across most parts of the country have access to crop insurance schemes that provide compensation for weather-induced losses, growers in Jammu and Kashmir are forced to depend upon limited relief measures which are often inadequate and unable to offset the actual economic damage suffered by farming families.
Inam Un Nabi observed that climate variability has increased the frequency of extreme weather events in recent years, resulting in substantial losses to fruit growers and farmers. "A single hailstorm during the flowering or fruit-setting stage can destroy an entire season's income. For many small and marginal farmers who invest heavily in seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and orchard management, such losses can push families into financial distress and indebtedness," he said.
The AIP spokesperson Inam Un Nabi demanded the immediate introduction of a multi-peril crop insurance scheme covering both agricultural and horticultural crops, including apples, cherries, walnuts, almonds and saffron. He also called for subsidised premiums, transparent loss assessment, simplified claim procedures and time-bound compensation to ensure that farmers receive meaningful support when calamities strike.
"Crop insurance is not a welfare measure but an essential component of modern agricultural policy. Protecting farmers from risks beyond their control is crucial for ensuring livelihood security, sustaining rural economies and strengthening the agricultural sector of Jammu and Kashmir," Inam Un Nabi added.