JAMMU: Minister for Agriculture Production, Javed Ahmad Dar, today said that about 3145 orchardists have been provided with relief amounting to Rs 87.98 lakh, till date, under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) by the District Administration, Shopian.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Showkat Hussain Ganie in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed that the hailstorm has affected apple crops 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 Shopian on October- 28, 2024 for relief measures under natural calamity to compensate the loss to 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 the provision of benefits under the Crop Insurance Scheme and Net facility to the apple growers for the protection of their crops against hailstorms and other natural calamities.
Shabir Ahmad Kullay raised a supplementary.
