Srinagar, September 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that there is presently no proposal under consideration to provide up to 90 per cent subsidy for installation of hail nets in existing and traditional fruit orchards across the Union Territory.
The government stated this in a written reply to an Un-Starred Question raised by MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly regarding crop insurance coverage and measures to protect fruit crops from recurrent hailstorms.
In its reply, the Agriculture Production Department said that financial assistance is already available for installation of Anti-Bird/Anti-Hail Nets under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
Under the existing scheme provisions, a 50 per cent subsidy is provided for installation of such nets, subject to a maximum eligible area of 10,000 square metres per beneficiary.
The department further stated that where the area covered is less than the prescribed maximum limit, financial assistance is provided on a pro-rata basis, in accordance with the approved scheme norms and guidelines.
The government said the assistance is aimed at encouraging fruit growers to adopt protective measures against hailstorms and other adverse weather conditions, thereby helping minimise crop losses and safeguard fruit production and productivity.
The government, however, clarified that no separate proposal for providing 90 per cent subsidy for hail nets in existing and traditional orchards is presently under consideration.(GNS)
