Srinagar, Jun 29: Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as a key beneficiary in the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare’s Annual Report 2025-26, with the Union Territory registering strong coverage under several flagship schemes aimed at supporting farmers.
As per the report, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), 8,54,502 farmers in J&K received Rs 170.90 crore under the 21st instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme. Of them, 85,410 women farmers were provided financial assistance amounting to Rs 17.08 crore, reflecting their growing participation in the agriculture sector.
The report further states that 1,26,967 farmers from Jammu and Kashmir had been enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY) as of January 25, 2026, ensuring pension benefits for small and marginal farmers.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme, the Union Territory recorded 11.62 lakh farmer applications covering 6.34 lakh hectares. The total insured amount was Rs 4,381.31 crore. Farmers contributed Rs 80.66 crore as premium, while insurance claims worth Rs 166.67 crore were settled in their favour, according to the report
The report states that Jammu and Kashmir recorded an increase in approvals under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)/RKVY framework, with five projects sanctioned during 2024-25 and six projects approved for 2025-26.
According to the Annual Report, 25 Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) and sub-market yards in the Union Territory have been integrated with the Agmarknet Portal, facilitating access to market prices and other agricultural information for farmers and stakeholders.
Jammu and Kashmir also registered inter-state trade through the electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM). As per the report, traders from the Union Territory sold 33.334 quintals of produce to Jharkhand worth Rs 4.50 lakh, 234.13 quintals to Maharashtra valued at Rs 19.64 lakh, and 104.36 quintals to Rajasthan worth Rs 3.80 lakh.
The Ministry has continued special support for Jammu and Kashmir under its seed transportation programme in view of the region’s difficult terrain. The report says the Union Territory is entitled to 100 per cent reimbursement of the difference between road and rail freight charges for certified seeds brought from outside J&K, besides reimbursement of intra-UT transportation costs to make quality seeds more affordable for farmers.
The report further highlights enhanced incentives for Jammu and Kashmir under horticulture development schemes. Under the National Horticulture Board’s commercial horticulture programme, open-field cultivation projects in the Union Territory are eligible for assistance of up to Rs 50 lakh, while large-scale projects involving crops such as apples, walnuts and almonds can receive financial support of up to Rs 1 crore.
It also provides for a capital subsidy of 33.33 per cent, subject to a maximum of Rs 30 lakh, for post-harvest and infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir, considering the challenges faced by the Himalayan region.
The report notes that cases of Fall Armyworm infestation in maize were detected in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing the Union Territory under the national pest surveillance programme.
In another key development, the Ministry recommended an additional 50 days of employment under MGNREGA, over and above the existing 100 days, for flood and natural calamity-affected areas of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir during 2025-26.
The Annual Report also mentions that 535 samples collected from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab are undergoing laboratory testing and hazard analysis, though no further details on the findings have been disclosed—(KNO)
