Important Update on KCC Loan: Big Relief Expected Soon for Kashmir Farmers?
Srinagar, Oct 27: The Jammu and Kashmir government is facing mounting pressure to announce major relief measures for fruit growers, including a possible waiver of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans and an effective insurance support system after repeated crop losses this year.
The demand gained momentum after strong appeals in the Legislative Assembly, where several voices highlighted the deep financial distress faced by orchardists across the Valley. Lawmakers warned that the sector; which contributes significantly to J&K’s economy; is now “slipping into crisis” due to rising costs, erratic weather, and poor market returns.
During the session, PDP legislator Waheed Parra called for an immediate waiver of KCC loans and timely compensation through crop insurance, saying that thousands of families depending on horticulture have been pushed into debt. “KCC loans should be waived off this year in the interest of farmers. Losses are high, and growers are in distress,” he said.
Parra argued that while the horticulture sector sustains lakhs of people across rural Kashmir, policy neglect and delayed compensation have made survival difficult for small orchardists. “Losses must be compensated through an effective insurance mechanism. The current system is too slow and insufficient to meet the ground reality,” he added.
His remarks follow reports of widespread damage to apple, pear, and cherry crops due to recent adverse weather and transport disruptions in South and North Kashmir.
Several grower associations have echoed the same concerns, warning that without loan relief and insurance reform, the horticulture economy could face its “worst crisis in a decade.”
Officials from the Horticulture Department have acknowledged the situation but maintained that the government is “assessing losses” and will “take a balanced decision” after consulting financial institutions and insurance agencies.
