Members hail LG for declaring hailstorm as Disaster

Jammu:The J&K Advisory Board for Development of Kissans(J&KABDK) met saturday here at Pragati Bhawan Rail Head to ascertain the feedback and first information report about the quantum of damage to the farmers produce and the number of villages affected due to the recent hail storm in Jammu Division.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Director Agriculture Jammu K.K. Sharma and Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Sevak.
The meeting also reviewed the coverage under the Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana. At the outset of the meeting, Secretary of the Board Abdul Hamid Wani apprised the participants about the importance of the Board and purpose of the said meeting.
He informed that the Board works as a link between the farmers and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. The Secretary informed that the Board members have been chosen by the Government among the farmers community from grassroots level.
Every Board member was asked to share his feedback and information from the areas which they represent.
All Chief Agriculture Officers, all Chief Horticulture Officers, besides Officers from Revenue Department Jammu Division attended the meeting. The concerned insurance companies dealing with the PMFBY were also invited.
J.L Sharma (Ex. Director Horticulture) who is the Board Member presented the agenda of the meeting and had threadbare discussions on it. He expressed satisfaction over the recent decision of the Government and conveyed gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor Jammu and Kashmir on behalf of the Board for declaring this Hailstorm as a Disaster and also conveyed congratulations to the affected farmers.
The Director Agriculture Production and Farmers welfare department presented the details of loss and villages affected with this natural calamity. He informed that Farooq Ahmad Khan, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, along with the officers of Agriculture Department, officers of Revenue Department and insurance companies had a comprehensive tour to every affected village to assess and witness the gravity of damage to the paddy and vegetable fields. He said that the Government is working to compensate the farmers on the pattern of compensation being given to farmers by the Delhi, Punjab and Haryana Governments during such natural disasters. Sharma informed that insurance companies dealing with the Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana have been already informed about the occurrence of this hailstorm which was necessary as per the MOU, and both the insurance companies viz General Reliance Insurance and IFFCOTOKIO have been pressed into service for entertaining the claims of farmers, whose crops are insured under the Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana.
It was informed that for easy access and to approach these companies, the affected farmers can contact them on Mobile Numbers (Mahavir Manager General Reliance Insurance: 9357467896 & ( Tahir Khan, Manager IFFCOTOKIO: 7889926126).
In case of any delay or negligence by these companies the farmers can approach the concerned Chief Agriculture Officer/SDOs.
The necessary application form for Insurance Claim is also available on the website of Directorate of Agriculture Jammu and can be collected from the concerned Chief Agriculture Officer/SDO office.
The Director Agriculture Production and Farmers welfare department Jammu informed that out of total 620,000 farmer’s families in Jammu division only 50,000 farmer families have opted for PMFBY which is a very dismal figure and the data regarding the farmer who underwent insurance to his crop is already available on the portal of the department. He said that there is a need that Insurance companies should hold awareness camps before the onset of Rabi Season so that more farmers are encouraged to opt for this PM Fasal Bima Yojana scheme. He further informed that a crop assessment committee has already been constituted in the Agriculture Department which has been pressed into service for deciding the quantum of damage village wise/block wise for immediate settlement of insurance claims and also a damage report of the crops shall be submitted to government for compensation to the non insured crops damaged due to the recent hailstorm.
The insurance companies informed in the meeting that they have already received about 6000 claims from the affected farmers which are under due consideration for early settlement.
The Director Agriculture further informed that 20,000 quintals of seed for Rabi crops have been already kept available on subsidised rates at block level offices in Jammu Division and the department has set a target of 60,000 quintals of seeds which is already in stock and shall be given to the farmers well in time. He further informed that the supply of the fertilisers shall be also made available to the farmers within 10-15 days.
While talking on the mechanization and machinery, he said that the department of Agriculture has already received necessary funds and the farmers who have purchased their machinery can immediately approach to the Department for availing the assistance under nor
Ram Sevak, Director Horticulture Jammu informed that the hail storm has impacted Citrus and strawberries grown in Jammu division and about 1500 farmers have been affected. The department of Horticulture has already conducted the survey of the affected areas and the report shall be submitted to the government for providing compensation to the farmers.
The progressive farmers and other FPOs present in the meeting were assured by the Board that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir shall be pursued for all possible assistance to the farmers who suffered immense loss due to this natural calamity.