CIS implemented to provide financial support to farmers facing losses: Govt

Jammu, Mar 20: Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday said that the Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) was implemented in J&K to provide financial support to farmers facing losses due to unforeseen events.
Replying to the question of MLA Reyaz Ahmad Khan, Minister for Agriculture production said that Crop Insurance Scheme has been implemented in the UT of J&K for the benefits of farmers with the objective to provide financial support to the farmers suffering from crop loss/damage arising out of unforeseen events, stabilizing the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming, encouraging farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices and ensuring credit worthiness of the farmers, crop diversification and enhancing growth and competitiveness of agriculture sector besides, protecting the farmers from production risks.
“The scheme was adopted vide SAC Decision No. 50/07/2016 dated 31.03.2016 and was implemented by Govt. order No. 134-Agri of 2016 dated 05.04.2016 and was formally introduced vide G.O. No. 265-Agri of 2016 dated 16.11.2016. In the first phase, the scheme was implemented in 10 districts of J&K (In Jammu Division) for a period of 02. years from 2017-18. PMFBY was later implemented in 04 districts (Jammu, Samba, Udhampur & Anantnag) for a period of 03 years from Kharif 2021 to 2024. During Kharif 2023, the scheme was implemented in all the left out 16 districts of J&K and the contract is valid upto 2026. The scheme is being implemented at the Block level. Since Kharif 2023 till Kharif 2024, the scheme has been in operation in all the Blocks of the UT of J&K,” he said.
Replying to another question of MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay, Minister said that horticulture is a major Contributor to the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and provides livelihood to a significant portion of the population.
“Government has already introduced re-structured Weather Based Crop Insurance scheme for Horticulture in JKUT and tender for the same has been floated for participation of Insurance Companies. Under this scheme, Apple and Saffron for Kashmir Division have been notified and for Jammu division, Mango is notified for six districts (ie Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Udhampur and Reasi) and Litchi has been notified for five districts (e Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi,” he said.
“A total of 9978.53 lakh has been allocated to the districts of Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama and Budgam under different sectors of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) for the financial year 2024-25,” he added.
He added that the subsidy on Machinery equipment is provided as per the guidelines of Centrally Sponsored Schemes namely, MIDH, SMAM.