J&K Govt to Launch Crop Insurance for Apple Growers, Expand Cold Storage Facilities
SRINAGAR, Oct 27 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced that apple, saffron, mango, and litchi crops will now be covered under the Re-structured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS). A separate crop insurance cover exclusively for apple growers is also in the final stages of approval.
According to officials quoted by Kashmir News Service (KNS), the tendering process to select an insurance company for implementing the scheme is already underway, and the government aims to launch the coverage soon to safeguard the interests of fruit farmers across the Union Territory.
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The announcement came in response to a question by PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra in the Assembly, who sought details on steps taken to support apple growers and improve the horticulture infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
In its written reply, the government stated that the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), first launched in 2019 through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED), provided crucial market support to apple farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration is now preparing to revive the scheme to ensure long-term financial stability for growers.
The reply also highlighted that the government is expanding cold storage infrastructure to meet post-harvest demands. Currently, Jammu and Kashmir has a Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage capacity of 2.92 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), compared to an estimated requirement of 6 LMT — about 30 percent of the region’s annual fruit output.
Officials said efforts are underway to enhance this capacity over the next five years through funds under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), along with top-up subsidies from the UT Capex budget. District-level awareness seminars are being held to inform youth about incentives for establishing CA stores and other post-harvest facilities.
The government also revealed plans to collaborate with the Industries and Commerce Department to create new industrial estates focused on horticulture in districts beyond Lassipora (Pulwama) and Aglar (Shopian), where most fruit-based units are currently concentrated.
Addressing Parra’s query on fruit mandi upgradation, the administration confirmed that two major mandis—Prichoo Pulwama and Pachhar Rajpora—are fully functional with basic infrastructure. Upgradation works are ongoing with Rs 1.28 crore and Rs 3.68 crore sanctioned under NABARD for FY 2025–26.
Officials emphasized that these measures—including the upcoming crop insurance cover, revival of MIS, expansion of cold storage, and mandi modernization—will significantly strengthen the horticulture ecosystem and secure livelihoods for thousands of fruit growers across Jammu and Kashmir.
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