Rs 87.98 lakh relief given to 3,145 hailstorm-hit orchardists in Shopian

Jammu and Kashmir’s Minister for Agriculture Production, Javed Ahmad Dar, on Monday said that as many as 3,145 orchardists have been provided relief amounting to Rs 87.98 lakh till date under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) by the Shopian district administration.

The minister was replying to a question raised by MLA Showkat Hussain Ganie in the Legislative Assembly.

The Minister informed that the hailstorm has affected apple crop in 24 villages of Zainapora constituency during harvesting season in September 2024.

He maintained that the survey regarding assessment of loss was conducted by the Chief Horticulture Officer, Shopian, jointly with revenue and agriculture department.

The report was submitted to the District Administration on October 28 for relief measures under natural calamity to compensate the loss of the affected growers. He further said that the relief disbursement process is underway and all the affected farmers shall be covered.

The Minister added that the government shall, through a committee, evaluate provision of benefits under crop insurance scheme and hail net facility to the apple growers for protection of their crops against hailstorm and other natural calamities.