CA storage capacity to be augmented in 5-yrs
Suhail Bhat
Srinagar Oct 27: The Government today announced that the Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) is in its final stage, with the tendering process underway to select an insurance company for implementation.
The Government said that if the insurance scheme does not materialize, it will launch a Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to protect the interests of fruit growers across Jammu and Kashmir.
Replying to a question by the PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra in the Legislative Assembly, Agriculture Minister Javed Dar informed in a written reply that under the Re-structured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS), crops such as apple, saffron, mango, and litchi have been notified.
“The tendering process for the selection of the insurance company, from among the empanelled firms notified by the Government of India, is underway to offer formal crop insurance coverage to these horticulture crops,” Dar said in a written reply.
He added that the Market Intervention Scheme, first introduced in 2019 through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED), had provided crucial support to apple growers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dar further informed the House that the government is expanding cold storage facilities to address post-harvest challenges in the horticulture sector. “The Controlled Atmosphere (CA) capacity in Jammu and Kashmir currently stands at 2.92 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) against an estimated requirement of 6 LMT-approximately 30 percent of the total annual fruit production,” the minister said.
He added that the department aims to augment CA storage capacity over the next five years. “In addition to funds under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme-Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)-the government is providing a top-up subsidy through the UT Capex budget,” Dar said.
The minister said seminars have been organized in all districts to inform youth about the incentives available for establishing CA infrastructure and post-harvest facilities. He added that the government is also collaborating with the Industries and Commerce Department to develop new sectoral infrastructure estates for horticulture outside existing clusters at Lassipora (Pulwama) and Aglar (Shopian).
Responding to Parra’s question on the upgradation of fruit mandis, the minister said that two markets at Prichoo Pulwama and Pachhar Rajpora are functional with basic infrastructure. “Upgradation and development of these mandis is an ongoing process. Funds amounting to Rs 1.28 crore and Rs 3.68 crore, respectively, have been allocated under NABARD for the financial year 2025-26,” the reply said.
Dar also placed the losses to agriculture and allied sectors caused by the recent floods at Rs 209 crore, noting that a report has been submitted to the Centre seeking approval for a relief package. “Agriculture and allied sectors have incurred losses of Rs 209 crore. We have submitted this estimate to the Centre, and we hope to receive support soon,” he said.
Parra, however, urged the Government to waive off Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans of farmers affected by adverse weather and the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in August. “It will be a burden of Rs 600 crore. I hope the Chief Minister will consider this,” he said.
Dar added that Kashmir produces approximately 23 lakh metric tonnes of fruit annually, of which 1.75 lakh metric tonnes had been transported before the highway closure, leaving 22,000 metric tonnes stranded.
During the Zero Hour, Bashir Ahmad Veeri, MLA Srigufwara-Bijbehara, demanded that the Jablipora Fruit Mandi be developed as an international fruit terminal, while Rafiq Ahmad Naik (MLA Tral) and Abdul Majeed Bhat Larmi (MLA Anantnag West) sought the establishment of CA stores in their constituencies.
Responding to a Calling Attention Motion by MLA Hilal Akbar Lone regarding compensation for farmers affected by the recent highway blockade, Minister Dar informed that Rs. 12.28 lakh had been disbursed so far. “The total compensation assessed under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms stands at Rs. 152.37 lakh, out of which Rs. 12.28 lakh has already been released,” he said.
Dar stated that despite road connectivity disruptions along National Highway-44 due to heavy rains and landslides, the government ensured the transportation of apple produce to major markets outside Jammu and Kashmir. “During the road-blocked period, 1,25,376 apple boxes worth Rs. 10.03 crore were dispatched by train from Budgam and Anantnag to Jammu and Adarsh Nagar, Delhi. Up to October 23, 2025, around 14,000 metric tons (9 lakh boxes) have been transported through rail services from various fruit and vegetable markets of Kashmir,” he informed.
On damage caused by floods and landslides, Dar said that a departmental assessment found 431.091 hectares of crop area affected, with over 33 percent losses across several regions. He assured that the government remains committed to supporting the farming community and mitigating future risks.
“Kashmir, predominantly an agrarian economy, is India’s leading apple-producing region and contributes substantially to the national output,” Dar said, estimating the current season’s apple production at 22.15 lakh metric tonnes (MT). He added, “Of this, around 14 lakh MT is normally exported outside J&K, while the rest is consumed locally, stored in CA facilities, or lost due to perishability and handling,” he explained.
He said at the time of the road blockage, only about 22,000 MT, roughly 1 percent of total produce, remained stranded on NH-44, while the bulk continued to move out gradually. “Farmers and traders were encouraged to use railway parcel vans, defer harvesting until the highway’s restoration, and utilize CA stores for short-term preservation,” Dar added.
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