Onlykashmir.in News Desk
PULWAMA/SHOPIAN: Awami Ittehad Party Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi has questioned the prolonged delay in introducing crop insurance in Jammu and Kashmir, saying farmers and orchardists in the Valley remain exposed to recurring weather-related losses with no safety net. He made the remarks while visiting different areas of Pulwama and Shopian in South Kashmir on Friday.
The two districts sit at the heart of Kashmir’s horticulture economy, where families depend on orchards and seasonal crops for their annual income. A single hailstorm at the wrong moment can wipe out months of labour and investment, which is why growers have long argued that protection against weather shocks is a necessity rather than a luxury.
Inam Un Nabi demanded an immediate assessment of hailstorm damage and timely compensation for affected growers. He also called for a time-bound insurance framework covering all major crops, including fruits, vegetables, saffron and cereals, so that no segment of the farming community is left outside its cover.
Referring to the pending implementation of the weather-based insurance scheme for horticultural crops, he urged the Union Government and the J&K administration to resolve outstanding issues without further delay. “Why must farmers suffer every season while crop insurance remains a distant promise? The government must explain the delay and announce a definite timeline for implementation,” he said.
He stressed that affordability, transparency and speed must define any insurance mechanism offered to growers. “Farmers need affordable insurance, transparent coverage and timely settlement of claims. Compensation after losses is necessary, but a comprehensive crop insurance mechanism is essential to protect their livelihoods,” he added.
The demand reflects a wider concern among growers across the Valley, who say that relief announced after each calamity, while welcome, arrives unevenly and often late. A structured insurance system, they argue, would replace uncertainty with predictable cover and allow farmers to plan investments in inputs, storage and technology with greater confidence. For small and marginal growers in particular, a delayed claim can mean debt and disrupted livelihoods.
The AIP has now put the question squarely before the authorities, asking them to state a definite timeline and clear the pending issues holding up the weather-based scheme for horticulture. Whether the Union Government and the J&K administration respond with a concrete roadmap remains to be seen, but the party has signalled that the demand will continue to be raised on behalf of the farming community.
