Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh Hailstorm Damage: Government Assessing Massive Crop Loss, Says Minister Jagat Singh Negi
Jagat Singh Negi on Thursday expressed serious concern over the recent hailstorms and unseasonal weather conditions that have badly impacted horticulture and agriculture across Himachal Pradesh. The minister said the state government is currently assessing the total crop damage caused by continuous hailstorms and cold weather.
Jagat Singh Negi on Thursday expressed serious concern over the recent hailstorms and unseasonal weather conditions that have badly impacted horticulture and agriculture across Himachal Pradesh. The minister said the state government is currently assessing the total crop damage caused by continuous hailstorms and cold weather.
Speaking at a press conference, Negi said the exact financial loss can only be confirmed after a detailed ground-level report is prepared by officials.
According to the minister, the prolonged cold weather during May has negatively affected fruit crops in several districts of the state. He said many orchardists suffered losses because hailstorms and bad weather struck during the crucial flowering stage of fruit crops.
Orchardists Facing Heavy Losses in Himachal Pradesh
Negi stated that Himachal Pradesh’s horticulture sector has been under pressure due to rapidly changing weather patterns in recent years. Apple growers and other fruit farmers have reportedly witnessed significant crop damage because of repeated hailstorms and unstable climate conditions.
The minister acknowledged that although the state government provides compensation to affected farmers and orchardists, the financial assistance remains limited compared to the actual losses suffered.
He also highlighted the need for wider participation in the weather-based crop insurance scheme. According to Negi, the Himachal Pradesh government has repeatedly requested the Centre to connect more orchardists with insurance coverage.
Only 75,000 Orchardists Covered Under Crop Insurance
Sharing official figures, Negi said there are nearly 3.5 lakh orchardists in Himachal Pradesh, but less than 75,000 farmers have enrolled under the crop insurance scheme.
He added that growers who had insured their crops received better compensation after facing weather-related damages.
The minister urged more farmers to take advantage of insurance schemes to reduce financial risks caused by natural disasters and climate-related uncertainties.
State Government Provided Higher Relief During Natural Disasters
Referring to the devastating natural disasters of 2023 and 2025, Negi said the Himachal Pradesh government provided relief assistance to affected families and orchardists despite financial challenges.
He claimed the compensation distributed by the state government was significantly higher than the relief support received from the Centre during those disasters.
However, the minister also cautioned that providing such large-scale relief repeatedly may not always be financially possible for the state government.
Panchayati Raj and Local Body Elections Also Discussed
During the press conference, Negi also spoke about the upcoming Panchayati Raj Institution, Urban Local Body, and Municipal Corporation elections in Himachal Pradesh.
He said the Congress party remains strong in the state and added that election campaigning has not yet reached full momentum.
The minister clarified that Panchayati Raj Institutions and the state government operate under separate constitutional responsibilities and jurisdictions. He emphasized that all institutions should focus on development work according to their defined powers and available budgets.
