Sopore, May 23 -- Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar on Saturday said the crop insurance scheme for apple growers in Kashmir is expected to be implemented within the next one-and-a-half months, with the formal process set to begin from June 1.

Speaking to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) on the outskirts of Sopore, minsiter Dar said the bidding process for the weather-based crop insurance scheme, covering horticulture crops including apples and saffron, is in its final stages.

"Tomorrow, the bid is going to open. We hope that in the next one or two months, the whole process will be completed and this scheme will be implemented here," Dar said.

He said budgetary provisions have been made for the current year, with the premium to...