Programme design
Hailstorms are the leading climate hazard for Himachal’s apple and stone-fruit (cherry, plum, peach, apricot) orchards. A single 5–10 minute hail event can destroy a marketable harvest worth several lakh rupees per ha. The Mukhyamantri Anti-Hail Net Scheme subsidises the installation of UV-stabilised HDPE anti-hail net with a galvanised steel pole framework over orchards in the apple belt to break the impact of hailstones and protect fruit during the critical May–September window.
Benefit structure
- 80 % subsidy for small/marginal orchardists, SC/ST orchardists and women growers.
- 60 % subsidy for general-category orchardists.
- Coverage includes galvanised steel pole framework, high-tensile HDPE net and accessories.
- Per-beneficiary area cap notified in the season gazette (typically up to a few hectares per orchard).
- Procurement of net via empanelled vendors only.
Eligibility
- Orchard owner in HP with valid Jamabandi land record.
- Orchard registered with the Department of Horticulture.
- SC/ST/women orchardists qualify for the 80 % rate; valid caste certificate required.
- Small/marginal orchardists (≤2 ha) qualify for the 80 % rate.
- Aadhaar-seeded bank account for DBT credit.
How to apply — step by step
- Visit hpagriculture.com during the notification window (typically December — February before the hail season).
- Submit Jamabandi, orchard registration, Aadhaar, caste certificate (if applicable), bank passbook.
- Block Horticulture Development Officer (BHDO) verifies orchard area and quota eligibility.
- Sanction letter is issued with empanelled-vendor list and per-bigha cost estimate.
- Purchase net + framework from empanelled vendor; upload invoice and installation photos.
- District-level inspection committee verifies installation; subsidy (60 % or 80 %) credited via DBT.
Latest changes (2024 — 2026)
- 2024: Subsidy rates retained; vendor empanelment widened to include locally-fabricated galvanised frame manufacturers.
- March 2025: hpagriculture.com online sanction flow rolled out; previously physical-file sanctions migrated online.
- August 2025: Convergence with MIDH (central horticulture) to leverage 40 % central share on hail-net under the protected-cultivation window.
- 2025-26: Exact FY 2025-26 outlay not published as of 2025-26 — verify the latest figure from HP CM Office press notes and Vidhan Sabha replies.
Common rejection reasons + appeal
- Orchard not registered: Department of Horticulture orchard registration is a prerequisite.
- Quota tier mismatch: SC/ST or women certificate missing; system applies the general 60 % rate instead of 80 %.
- Vendor off-panel: purchase from non-empanelled vendor disqualifies the subsidy.
- Area over notified cap: claims for area beyond the per-beneficiary cap are pro-rated.
- Installation photo missing or geotag mismatch: post-installation photo with GPS stamp is mandatory.
- Aadhaar — bank seeding failure: DBT credit fails on NPCI side.
Grievance: BHDO → District Horticulture Officer → Department of Horticulture HP Director. Written appeal to DHO within 30 days.
How Anti-Hail Net stacks with other schemes
Anti-Hail Net subsidises a physical mitigation that reduces claim frequency under PMFBY and RWBCIS (weather-indexed insurance). Convergence with MIDH (orchard renovation), Apple MIS (process-grade price floor) and HP-SHIVA (sub-tropical horticulture cluster). KCC-MISS finances working-capital and net-installation cost at 4 % effective.
Coverage statistics
Per HP Department of Horticulture press notes, cumulative hail-net coverage in the apple belt has crossed several thousand hectares since launch. Year- on-year orchard-area coverage and outlay figures are published in HP Vidhan Sabha replies.