21/08/2026
Anti hail nets , Crop Insurance and KCC Relief What Kashmir's apple Growers Urgently Need
By Amanullah Khan
[email protected]
From Compensation to Protection: A New Policy for
Kashmir’s Apple Growers
The devastating hailstorm that struck the Feeripora, Mandojan, Batagund, Kaprin and adjoining areas of Kanjiullar in Shopian has once again exposed the vulnerability of Kashmir’s apple growing community. The storm has caused massive destruction to orchards, with preliminary ground assessment indicating damage to around 90 percent of the apple crop in several affected pockets. For farmers who have invested an entire year of hard work, money and hope into their orchards, this is not merely a crop loss—it is a direct blow to their livelihood and the
economic stability of their families. Apple cultivation supports thousands of households in South Kashmir, and when a natural calamity destroys the crop just before harvest, the
consequences can continue for years.
Compensation Is Necessary, But It Is Not the Permanent Solution. The government must
immediately conduct a transparent, scientific and village-wise assessment of the damage and provide adequate compensation to the affected growers. However, compensation after every calamity cannot be the long-term answer.
What farmers need is security against future disasters. The government must urgently
introduce and implement a Comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme specifically covering
horticulture, with apple and cherry brought clearly under its coverage. The insurance mechanism should cover losses caused by hailstorms, heavy rainfall, windstorms, frost and other natural
calamities, with a simple and farmer-friendly claim process.
Anti-Hail Nets Must Be Fully Subsidized. Another practical solution is the widespread
installation of anti-hail nets. These protective systems can significantly reduce the vulnerability
of orchards to hailstorms. For small and marginal orchardists, however, the cost of installing
anti-hail nets can be prohibitive. Therefore, the government must make anti-hail nets available to
farmers on a 100 percent subsidy basis, particularly in vulnerable horticulture zones. This
should not remain merely a scheme on paper. The government must ensure timely availability,
transparent distribution and installation support at the farmer level.
KCC Loans of Affected Farmers Must Be Waived The most immediate financial burden on many
growers is the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) debt taken to finance their agricultural and horticultural
activities. When a farmer loses almost the entire crop, expecting him to repay the same debt
from a destroyed harvest is unrealistic and unjust. Therefore, for severely affected growers, the
government must consider waiver of KCC loans, or at minimum provide substantial debt relief,
restructuring and interest relief based on the actual assessed crop loss.
A Clear Message to Our Politicians To every political leader who claims to stand with the
farmers, there is a simple message:
Do not come to the people only with statements, photographs and promises after every disaster.
If there is genuine concern for the farming community, then come forward and support these
concrete demands:
Comprehensive crop insurance for horticulture, including apple and cherry.
100 percent subsidized anti-hail nets for vulnerable orchard areas.
KCC loan waiver/debt relief for farmers suffering severe crop losses. Immediate and transparent assessment of the recent hailstorm damage. Adequate and timely compensation to affected orchardists. Our farmers do not need sympathy for a day. They need a permanent system that protects their livelihood. The recent hailstorm should therefore become a turning point. Instead of waiting for the next disaster and repeating the cycle of damage, compensation and forgotten promises, the government and political leadership must act now. If you genuinely care about the people, stop be fooling them with temporary assurances. Startworking on these permanent solutions. The farmers deserve protection, dignity and a secure future—not just promises after every calamity.
Amanullah Khan
Can be reached at [email protected]
The devastating hailstorm that struck the Feeripora, Mandojan, Batagund, Kaprin and adjoining
areas of Kanjiullar in Shopian has once again exposed the vulnerability of Kashmir’s applegrowing community. The storm has caused massive destruction to orchards, with preliminary
ground assessment indicating damage to around 90 percent of the apple crop in several
affected pockets. For farmers who have invested an entire year of hard work, money and hope
into their orchards, this is not merely a crop loss—it is a direct blow to their livelihood and the
economic stability of their families. Apple cultivation supports thousands of households in
South Kashmir, and when a natural calamity destroys the crop just before harvest, the
consequences can continue for years.
Compensation Is Necessary, But It Is Not the Permanent Solution. The government must
immediately conduct a transparent, scientific and village-wise assessment of the damage and
provide adequate compensation to the affected growers. However, compensation after every
calamity cannot be the long-term answer.
What farmers need is security against future disasters. The government must urgently
introduce and implement a Comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme specifically covering
horticulture, with apple and cherry brought clearly under its coverage. The insurance mechanism
should cover losses caused by hailstorms, heavy rainfall, windstorms, frost and other natural
calamities, with a simple and farmer-friendly claim process.
Anti-Hail Nets Must Be Fully Subsidized. Another practical solution is the widespread
installation of anti-hail nets. These protective systems can significantly reduce the vulnerability
of orchards to hailstorms. For small and marginal orchardists, however, the cost of installing
anti-hail nets can be prohibitive. Therefore, the government must make anti-hail nets available to
farmers on a 100 percent subsidy basis, particularly in vulnerable horticulture zones. This
should not remain merely a scheme on paper. The government must ensure timely availability,
transparent distribution and installation support at the farmer level.
KCC Loans of Affected Farmers Must Be Waived The most immediate financial burden on many
growers is the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) debt taken to finance their agricultural and horticultural
activities. When a farmer loses almost the entire crop, expecting him to repay the same debt
from a destroyed harvest is unrealistic and unjust. Therefore, for severely affected growers, the
government must consider waiver of KCC loans, or at minimum provide substantial debt relief,
restructuring and interest relief based on the actual assessed crop loss.
A Clear Message to Our Politicians To every political leader who claims to stand with the
farmers, there is a simple message:
Do not come to the people only with statements, photographs and promises after every disaster. If there is genuine concern for the farming community, then come forward and support these
concrete demands:
Comprehensive crop insurance for horticulture, including apple and cherry.
100 percent subsidized anti-hail nets for vulnerable orchard areas.
KCC loan waiver/debt relief for farmers suffering severe crop losses.
Immediate and transparent assessment of the recent hailstorm damage.
Adequate and timely compensation to affected orchardists.
Our farmers do not need sympathy for a day. They need a permanent system that protects their
livelihood. The recent hailstorm should therefore become a turning point. Instead of waiting for
the next disaster and repeating the cycle of damage, compensation and forgotten promises, the
government and political leadership must act now.
If you genuinely care about the people, stop be fooling them with temporary assurances. Start
working on these permanent solutions. The farmers deserve protection, dignity and a secure
future—not just promises after every calamity.
