In state, only 6,409 opt for PM’s crop insurance cover

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, January 6

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has received a poor response in Haryana as only 6,409 non-loanee farmers have adopted this scheme voluntarily since its launch in 2016.

As per the 2011 Census, there were 16.37 lakh farmers’ families in Haryana and now, as per the authorities, the number has increased. The scheme, however, also witnessed a downfall in the enrolment of the loanee farmers.

From 1,942 in 2016, the number of non-loanee farmers covered under this weather-based crop insurance scheme has reached just to 6,409 during the 2018 kharif season. The delay in disbursing the payment to farmers is said to be the main reason for their lack of interest in the scheme.

Official data reveals, during the 2016 kharif season, as many as 7,36,853 loanee and 1,942 non-loanee farmers were enrolled under the scheme, covering 11,92,604 hectares. “The insurance companies had collected Rs 127.35 crore from farmers as premium and distributed Rs 234.23 crore.”

The data shows during the 2016-17 rabi season, the number of both loanee and non-loanee farmers was reduced and it reached to 5,96,115 and 1,183 respectively, covering 9,00,720 hectares. The insurance companies had collected Rs 69.94 crore and distributed Rs 57.02 crore among farmers.

In the 2017 kharif season, the number of loanee farmers increased to 6,40,509, but the voluntary ones declined to 1,053. However, the area covered under this insurance scheme was increased to 9,79,187 hectares and the insurance companies had collected Rs 126.74 crore as premium and distributed Rs 599 crore among farmers, the data revealed.

In the 2017-18 rabi season, the number of loanee and non-loanee farmers increased to 6,96,692 and 1,285, respectively, covering 9,35,786 hectares. The insurance companies had collected Rs 82.24 crore while the distribution of claims is underway. Meanwhile, the 2018 kharif season had witnessed an improvement in both the numbers as 7,10,785 loanee farmers were registered while the non-loanees reached to 6,409. The insurance companies had collected Rs 137.91-crore premium but the settlement of claims is still under process.

Sewa Singh Arya, national vice-president, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Arya faction), said the government had fixed three to four insurance companies that had failed to provide the benefits of the scheme to the farmers on time. “The farmers should be given a free hand to select the insurance company as per their own will.”

Suresh Gehlawat, additional director (extension), admitted that non-loanee farmers were showing lack of interest in the crop insurance scheme, but the department was trying its best to increase the enrolment. “Our employees are geared up to motivate the farmers for adopting the scheme as it is beneficial for them in case of any loss or damage to the crop due to any calamity,” he said.