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New Delhi, Feb 19 () The government on Wednesday made its flagship crop insurance schemes voluntary for farmers with existing crop loans or those willing to take new ones, as it seeks to address the concerns raised by farmers' body and states in implementation of these programmes."The Union Cabinet has approved revamping of 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)' and 'Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)' to address the existing challenges in implementation of crop insurance schemes," an official statement said. Under the PMFBY, which was launched in February 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is mandatory for loanee farmers to take insurance cover under this scheme. The PMFBY provides comprehensive crop insurance from pre-sowing to post-harvest period against non-preventable natural risks at extremely low premium rate of 2 per cent for kharif crops, 1.5 per cent for rabi crops and 5 per cent for horticulture and commercial crops.The Cabinet approved modification of certain parameters/provisions of ongoing PMFBY and RWBCIS schemes."Enrolment under the scheme to be made voluntary for all farmers (both PMFBY/ RWBCIS)," Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters here.He said currently 58 per cent of total farmers are loanee and the remaining 42 per cent are non-loanee. The number of farmers opting for these crop insurance schemes may drop immediately but the enrolment would eventually pick up, Tomar said.The minister said the government would launch a campaign for creating awareness among farmers about the need to take a crop insurance policy. These modifications will help in addressing the concerns raised about the PMFBY scheme by farmers organisations and states, he said.Among other modification, Tomar said the allocation of business to insurance firms through tender process would be done for three years as against the current policy of one to three years."Central share in premium subsidy to be increased to 90 per cent for north eastern states from the existing sharing pattern of 50:50 (Both PMFBY/RWBCIS)," the statement said.Tomar said States will not be allowed to implement these schemes in subsequent seasons in case of considerable delay in release of requisite premium subsidy to insurance companies beyond a prescribed time limit. Cut-off dates for invoking this provision for Kharif and Rabi seasons will be 31st March and 30th September of successive years, respectively. The Cabinet also approved provisioning of at least 3 per cent of the total allocation for the scheme to be made by the Centre and implementing state governments for administrative expenses. For estimation of crop losses/admissible claims in the PMFBY, two-step process will be adopted based on defined deviation matrix using specific triggers like weather indicators, satellite indicators, etc, for each area along with normal ranges and deviation ranges. Only areas with deviations will be subject to crop cutting experiments (CCEs) for assessment of yield loss.Technology solutions like Smart Sampling Technique (SST) and optimization of number of CCEs would be adopted in conducting CCEs. In case of non-provision of yield data beyond cut-off date by the States to implementing insurance firms, claims will be settled based on yield arrived through use of technology solution.The central subsidy under PMFBY/RWBCIS to be limited for premium rates up to 30 per cent for un-irrigated areas/crops and 25 per cent for irrigated areas/crops. Districts having 50 per cent or more irrigated area will be considered as irrigated area/district.States have been given flexibility to implement the schemes with option to select any or many of additional risk covers/features like prevented sowing, localised calamity, mid-season adversity, and post-harvest losses. Further, States/UT can offer specific single peril risk/insurance covers, like hailstorm etc, under PMFBY even with or without opting for base cover (Both PMFBY/RWBCIS). "As the scheme is being made voluntary for all farmers, therefore, to provide financial support and effective risk mitigation tools through crop insurance especially to 151 districts which are highly water stressed including 29 which are doubly stressed because of low income of farmers and drought, a separate, scheme in this regard would also be prepared," the statement said. The concerned provisions/parameters of scheme and operational guidelines of the PMFBY and RWBCIS would be modified to incorporate these modifications and made operational from Kharif 2020 season."With these changes, it is expected that farmers would be able to manage risk in agriculture production in a better way and will succeed in stabilizing the farm income. These changes will also enable quick and accurate yield estimation leading to faster claims settlement," the statement said. NKD MJH ANZ MR

Govt makes crop insurance schemes voluntary for farmers

Mumbai, Feb 12 () The production of rabi cereals in 2019-20 is expected to grow 4.52 per cent to 134.23 million tonne compared to the previous year due to good soil moisture following above normal rainfall during the northeast monsoon season (October-December), according to a report.In 2018-19, the total rabi cereals production stood at 128.43 million tonne, according to National Bulk Handling Corporation's (NBHC) rabi crop estimates.The area under wheat is likely to increase 12.03 per cent to 33.44 million hectare and production expected to improve by 9.01 per cent to 111.40 million tonne.However, rabi rice acreage is recorded lower by 23.24 per cent at 2.61 million hectare against 3.40 million hectare last year. Its production is expected to fall significantly by 27.96 per cent to 10.30 million tonne from 14.29 million tonne last year mainly due to marginal shift in farmers' focus to pulses and wheat.Total coarse cereals production is expected to rise 4.92 per cent to 12.54 million tonne in 2019-20. There is likely to be growth in production of jowar (2.43 million tonne), maize (8.28 million tonne) and barley (1.83 million tonne).Jowar acreage has improved significantly by 19.12 per cent while the acreages of maize and barley are expected to show a marginal surge of 6.45 per cent and 6.85 per cent, respectively, the report by NBHC added.Overall, the pulses acreage is expected to increase 1.86 per cent to 15.92 million hectare from 15.63 million hectare last year. However, the production is expected to decline 2.47 per cent to 15.17 million tonne even as there is a growth in gram acreage and production by 10.14 per cent (10.64 million hectare) and 7.90 per cent (10.93 million tonne), respectively.Moong acreage is expected to decline significantly by 26.32 per cent to 0.56 million hectare from 0.76 million hectare last year and production is expected to fall 26.38 per cent to 0.38 million tonne from 0.51 million tonne.Urad acreage is expected to fall 21.44 per cent to 0.74 million hectare from 0.94 million hectare last year and production too is expected to slip 20.17 per cent to 0.56 million tonne.Overall, the pulses acreage is expected to increase 1.86 per cent to 15.92 million hectare and the production expected to fall 2.47 per cent at 15.17 million tonne. However, total oilseeds acreage is expected to decline marginally 0.87 per cent to 7.97 million hectare and production expected to dip 7.39 per cent to 10.17 million tonne from 10.98 million tonne last year.Mustard acreage is expected to decline 0.29 per cent to 6.92 million hectare and production likely to fall 6.92 per cent to 8.69 million tonne from 9.34 million tonne last year.Groundnut and sunflower production is estimated to be lower by 8.87 per cent (1.12 million tonne) and 39.24 per cent (0.08 million tonne), respectively. SM ANU

Rabi cereals output in 2019-20 estimated 4.5 pc higher at 134 MT: Report

Lucknow, Mar 28 () The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday announced that the procurement of mustard, gram and lentils (masoor) will start from April 2 on the minimum support price (MSP).All necessary arrangements are being made for the purchase. The government will buy 2.64 lakh metric tonne mustard, 2.01 lakh metric tonne gram and 1.21 lakh metric tonne lentil on the MSP from farmers.The procurement will take place for 90 days, the UP government said in a statement issued here."The February-March season was extremely unpredictable in the current Rabi season. Due to heavy rains and hailstorm, farmers' crops have been damaged in many places. In an effort to ensure that farmers, whose crops have been damaged, must get the sum assured within the stipulated time the government has instructed the insurance companies to compensate the farmers for their loss in time," the statement said.District magistrates have been instructed to issue passes to the employees of the Department of Agriculture and Revenue along with the insurance company for this survey work, it added.So far, applications from about 90 thousand farmers have come to insurance companies.Referring to potato, the UP government said, this year it (potato) has also adversely affected due to unseasonal rains.Some crops have been harvested, the rest is still in the field.Farmers are not even digging out the potatoes due to confusion over access of potatoes to cold storage due to the lockdown.According to information received from the horticulture department, the process of sanitising all cold storage is going on. "There will be no problem in storage and extraction of potatoes. Instructions have been given to all DMs to allow labourers engaged in this process to work," the statement said. NAV BALBAL

UP govt to start crop procurement from Apr 2

Jaipur, Mar 6 () Opposition BJP created an uproar in the Rajasthan Assembly over the Prime Minister crop insurance scheme, saying the state did not pay its share of the premium. The House was adjourned for one hour after the BJP members trooped into the Well. The BJP members cornered the government for not depositing the state's share of premium for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana by December 31, 2019. They alleged that due to the negligence of the government, the farmers will not get benefit of the insurance scheme. Replying to a question asked by BJP MLA Vasudev Devnani, Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria said eligible farmers are getting benefits as per the provisions of the crop loan scheme. He also informed the House about the number of farmers who were insured since 2017. He said the scheme has been in force in the state since kharif season 2016 as per the guidelines of the Government of India. The crops of farmers were insured from kharif 2017 to rabi 2019-20. The minister also informed the House about the number of policies done in kharif 2017 (58.45 lakh), rabi 2017-18 (35.48 lakh), kharif 2018 (42.05 lakh), rabi 2018-19 (29.75 lakh), kharif 2019 (44.49 lakh) and rabi 2019-20 (38.24 lakh). Not satisfied with the answer, BJP members said the farmers will not get benefits because the Rajasthan government failed to deposit its share of premium by due date. BJP MLA Devnani told reporters outside the Assembly that the Centre deposited its share of Rs 2,115 crore but the state government did not pay its share of premium by due date, which was December 31, 2019. "Farmers who suffer loss will not get the benefit of the scheme because the state government has not deposited its share of premium. The Congress government is 'anti-farmer' and the chief minister and the agriculture minister should resign," he said. When the House met again, the Agriculture Minister informed the Assembly the cut-off date for paying insurance premium was only for farmers and not for the state. He said the state government has deposited state's complete share of premium for rabi crops 2018-19 and kharif crop 2018 and part payment of Rs 400 crore was also done against kharif 2019 and rabi 2019-20. SDA CK

Pandemonium in Rajasthan Assembly over PM crop insurance scheme

New Delhi, Mar 28 () As rabi harvesting likely to pick up in the coming days, the government's agri-research body ICAR on Saturday asked farmers to follow social distancing and safety precaution while handling farm machines and labour in the field.For tackling any emerging issue related to managing crops, livestock and fisheries, farmers should consult and be in touch with agri-scientists in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ICAR research institutes and state agricultural universities for timely advisories, it said."The disease crisis has coincided with the harvesting season of rabi food crops such as wheat, millets, pulses and oilseeds and other crops. We need to take precautions as we will be engaged in the harvesting of grains, fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs and fish," Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Trilochan Mohapatra said in a statement.Similarly, proper sanitation is required for using shared or hired machinery for harvesting, he said, adding simple measures on washing of hands with soap, alcohol rub and maintaining isolation distance at personal level and proper cleaning of shared machinery are to be followed.It is the time to religiously follow the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of maintaining personal hygiene and isolation by everyone for arresting the community transmission of the disease and endangering of millions of lives, he added."My wishes for the well being of all farmers across the country at this critical time as we all face the pandemic of COVID-19," Mohapatra said, adding that the government has taken several steps in order to prevent the spread of infection.The government has exempted farming operations, farm workers, custom hiring centres of farm harvesters and implements as well as mandis and procurement agencies from the lockdown rules.It has allowed fertiliser shops to function and even manufacturing and packaging of fertilisers, pesticides and seeds has been permitted during the lockdown period.Inter and intra movement of farm machinery related to sowing and harvesting are also exempted from the lockdown rules. LUX BALBAL

Farmers should maintain social distancing, take precaution while harvesting crops: ICAR

Jaipur, Feb 3 () More than 8 lakh new farmers have been linked with online crop loan system to disburse cooperative crop loans in last one year in Rajasthan. 
 Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had given instructions to end discrimination in cooperative crop loan disbursement and to adopt uniform and transparent system and link new farmers so that they can get crop loans on zero per cent interest and get free from the clutches of moneylenders.
 Implementing the policy, the Apex Cooperative Bank had launched online crop loan disbursement and registration scheme-2019 under which crop loans were disbursed to eligible farmers based on their biometric verification, Department of Cooperatives said in a statement. 
 So far, more than 21 lakh farmers have been linked to cooperative crop loan in the state, including 8 lakh new farmers, and they have got crop loan of more than 8,244 crore, it said. 
 According to the statement, 13 lakh old farmers were also linked with the new crop loan system. 
 More than 25 lakh farmers have applied for crop loan till date in the state. Of these, 21.20 lakh farmers were disbursed loans of Rs 4,583 crore in Kharif season and Rs 3,661 crore in Rabi season. 
 Approximately 7 lakh new farmers have also been disbursed crop loans, while the remaining farmers will be disbursed loans by March 31, 2020.
 Under the Rajasthan Farmer Loan Waiver Scheme, loans of eligible farmers were waived through biometric verification. 
 Rajasthan government has waived farm loans of Rs 15,000 crore in 2018 and 2019. Approximately Rs 8,000 crore of loans of around 20 lakh farmers were waived under the scheme in 2019, it said. AG
 RVK

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Govt makes crop insurance schemes voluntary for farmers

PTI

Rabi cereals output in 2019-20 estimated 4.5 pc higher at 134 MT: Report

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UP govt to start crop procurement from Apr 2

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Pandemonium in Rajasthan Assembly over PM crop insurance scheme

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Farmers should maintain social distancing, take precaution while harvesting crops: ICAR

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Over 8 lakh new farmers linked with online crop loan system in Rajasthan

PTI

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