Srinagar Aug 25 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Minister Javed Dar on Tuesday said the government will implement a weather-based crop insurance scheme in the Union Territory once the Centre finalises and clears its revised insurance policy, adding that the J&K government has already made budgetary provisions for its share of the premium.
Dar said the Centre is revising its policy on agricultural insurance and has set up an advisory committee to submit its recommendations to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
“Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has assured me that the revised insurance policy will be implemented in the coming days. Once we receive the go-ahead, we will implement the scheme in Jammu and Kashmir,” Dar said.
The Minister said the J&K government had already provided for its share of the premium in the budget, while the remaining contributions would come from the Centre and farmers.
“Our share has already been provided in the budget.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelAs soon as the revised policy is approved and the necessary clearance is received, the insurance scheme will be implemented here,” he said.
Dar said the scheme would help farmers deal with losses caused by weather-related events and natural disasters.
The Minister also said the government was taking steps to address administrative shortcomings in areas with significant potential for fruit and vegetable cultivation.
He said the department had acted on complaints regarding poor performance by officials and was working to ensure that competent and committed officers were posted in areas that had remained without adequate government attention for several years.
“We want officers who believe in work to be posted in areas with huge potential for food and vegetable production. There has been a long period of stagnation in some of these places, and we are trying to change that,” Dar said.(KNS)