Crop insurance advance to 52 lakh farmers: Munde

 

 

 

 

 

The recent unseasonal rains in Maharashtra damaged huge amount of Kharif crop. Keeping the damage in mind, the Government has distributed Rs 1,690 crore of crop insurance advance to 52 lakh farmers of 24 districts of the State.

Dhananjay Munde, Minister of Agriculture, made this statement on Monday in the Legislative Council on the third day of Winter Session. The crop damage due to recent rains and alleged betrayal of farmers by banks on crop insurance were discussed in both houses on Monday. MLCs Shashikant Shinde and Amol Mitkari asked the government about the crop loss in West and North Maharashtra, and West Vidarbha due to recent unseasonal rains.

 

Replying to a question during the Question Hour, Munde said, government is serious and concerned about the crop loss. “We have instructed all nationalised banks to help each and every affected farmer in the State. Already, the panchnama is being conducted and, after the recent rains, the government has “Under the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme, there are 52 lakh farmers got affected in unseasonal rains and as interim relief, the government has sanctioned a total of Rs 2,216 crore for initial 25 per cent crop insurance to farmers.

 

However, the government has already distributed Rs 1,690 crore crop insurance advance to farmers,” said Munde. “Some banks have issues at local level which they raised before the State level technical advisory committee. The government is working to resolve the issue,” said Munde. The Opposition also alleged that some banks sanctioned just Rs 1,000 as crop insurance to affected farmers. Munde, in reply, said that government was working on such complaints and would release crop insurance amount as per the rule.