Farmers sensitised on weather-based Crop Insurance Scheme at Nimoo

LEH: The Department of Horticulture, Leh on Saturday organised a Farmers’ Training-cum-Awareness Programme at Nimoo village to sensitise orchardists about the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) under the Fasal Bima Yojana, aimed at providing insurance coverage for horticultural crops, particularly apple and apricot.

The programme focused on enhancing awareness among farmers about crop insurance as a safeguard against weather-induced losses and promoting wider participation in government-backed risk mitigation measures for the horticulture sector.

Chairing the programme, the Chief Horticulture Officer, Leh, underscored the importance of crop insurance in protecting farmers’ livelihoods from climatic uncertainties. He urged orchardists to avail themselves of the scheme and secure their orchards against potential financial losses arising from adverse weather conditions.

During the session, Dr Sonam Dawa delivered a detailed presentation on various schemes being implemented by the department. He outlined the objectives, benefits and enrolment procedures of the RWBCIS and highlighted initiatives aimed at improving fruit production, strengthening orchard management and enhancing farmers’ incomes.

The programme witnessed active participation from the farming community, with around 140 farmers and orchardists attending the event. Participants interacted with departmental officials and sought clarifications regarding insurance coverage, eligibility criteria and other benefits available under the scheme.

Nambardar of Nimoo village, Morup Namgyal, along with village representatives including Phuntsog Dorjey, was present on the occasion.

As part of the programme, the department distributed horticultural inputs, including spray pumps and biopesticides, among orchardists to encourage scientific cultivation practices and sustainable orchard management.

Participants appreciated the department’s outreach efforts and welcomed the initiative to raise awareness about government schemes. They also urged officials to organise similar programmes regularly to strengthen knowledge-sharing and capacity-building among farmers.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, with officials reiterating the department’s commitment to supporting orchardists and promoting the growth of the horticulture sector across the region.