The Jammu and Kashmir government has no proposal to provide up to 90 per cent subsidy for installing hail nets in existing and traditional fruit orchards, including apple orchards, despite recurring losses from hailstorms, the government said.
In a written reply to an Unstarred Question by MLA Shopain Shabir Ahmad Kullay, the government said growers can currently avail a 50 per cent subsidy for installing anti-bird/Anti-Hail Nets under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
The subsidy is available for a maximum eligible area of 10,000 square metres per beneficiary and is provided on a pro-rata basis where the area covered is below the prescribed limit.
The government said the assistance is intended to encourage growers to adopt protective measures against hailstorms and other adverse weather conditions and is particularly beneficial in fruit-growing areas prone to recurrent weather-related risks.
The reply also highlighted the extent of crop damage reported in Shopian during the past two years.
According to the government, no crop damage was reported in the district during 2023-24. In 2024-25, however, 6,792 farmers were affected over 2,209.75 hectares of orchards, with compensation of Rs 98.83 lakh paid.
In 2025-26, 2,179 farmers were affected over 589.40 hectares, with Rs 51.43 lakh paid as compensation.
The government said crop damage caused by hailstorms and other adverse weather conditions is assessed through joint field inspections by the Horticulture Department and Revenue authorities. The affected orchards are physically verified and the extent of damage assessed according to prescribed norms.
The district-level reports are subsequently sent to Deputy Commissioners for consideration of relief or compensation under SDRF/NDRF norms.
Meanwhile, the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) is yet to be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government said it has initiated the process for identification of insurance companies. The Centre, through a communication dated February 4, 2026, has advised the UT administration to undertake preparatory action for a fresh tender covering all 20 districts, keeping in view proposed revisions to the operational guidelines of PMFBY/RWBCIS.
The scheme is proposed to be implemented from Kharif 2026 onwards.
The J&K government has also participated in consultations with the Centre for finalising RWBCIS term sheets for apple, including provisions covering hailstorms and high-density apple orchards.
The term sheets have been finalised, while revision of the RWBCIS guidelines is currently under process at the Government of India level.
The developments come as fruit growers, particularly in hailstorm-prone areas, continue to face weather-related risks, while the proposed insurance mechanism is yet to become operational in the UT.
