In a major initiative to boost farming & agriculture in Jammu & Kashmir, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan addressed a press conference where he informed that Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) will be implemented in J&K. The scheme aims at including horticultural crops like apple, almond, walnut under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The insurance scheme will protect farmers from natural disasters and climate risks.
While addressing the press conference, he further said that a modern clean plant centre will be established in Srinagar at a cost of ₹ 150 crore. The centre will provide virus-free, and quality planting material to the farmers, which will elevate production capacity and income. To encourage the production of saffron, a tissue culture laboratory and a modern nursery will also be established by the central government.
RWBCIS and other Schemes for the Welfare of J&K Farmers
Apart from the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) scheme the govt. will also collaborate with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to set up a regional Horticulture Centre in Jammu Region. The central government has also approved the amount of more than ₹ 4200 crore for Jammu and Kashmir for the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured that the efforts by the central government will accelerate the development of Jammu & Kashmir.