Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 6: While demanding one-time exemption of KCC loan to the small farmers and fruit growers whose harvest was damaged by recent massive snowfall in Kashmir, State secretary of CPI (M), Ghulam Nabi Malik today reiterated his demand for implementation of Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) in the State.
“Horticulture is the backbone of State’s economy and the heavy snowfall has dealt a blow to it. Not only 20 to 30 percent yet to be plucked fruit was damaged due to the snowfall, but it caused massive damage to fruit trees as well which will be difficult for farmers to compensate. We had raised the issue of implementation of CIS in the State in the Assembly time and again. Though the announcement of Crop Insurance Scheme was made by the Government, it is unfortunate that the said scheme is not implemented so far here,” Malik said.
While then PDP-BJP Government in the State implemented Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in some areas of Jammu division nearly two years ago to give them cushion in times of natural calamities, the fruit growers and farmers in Kashmir are still waiting for the same. The lackadaisical approach of the then Government has resulted in huge losses to farmers and fruit growers in Kashmir as hailstorm, snowfall and drought has damaged orchards and fruit trees time and again.
The other drawback in the PMFBY is that if there is 50 percent loss in a block, then only the farmers can be compensated. But natural calamities like hailstorm can even damage crops in a limited area. The PMFBY needs to be implemented covering all areas and all crops.
While urging the Government for immediate implementation of the PMFBY in Kashmir, he demanded that the State Government must provide much needed succour to the ailing horticulture sector and disburse financial relief to the affected families. He also demanded one time KCC loan waiver as relief to the farming community.
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