No Crop insurance for horticulture farmers of Madhya Pradesh for last 2 years
16 December 2021, Bhopal: In order to protect the farmers from crop losses, the Government of India has implemented the Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana and weather-based crop insurance scheme for horticulture crops.
Madhya Pradesh horticulture farmers have been deprived of the benefits of weather based crop insurance scheme for the last 2 years. The main reason for this is lack of budget and non-availability of tenders during the Corona period.
Farmers are forced to bear the loss and the government is a mute spectator. The governments is promoting horticulture crops for doubling farmers income and at the same time depriving them from insuring their high investment crops.
As per sources, Madhya Pradesh horticulture crops have not been insured in Kharif 2020, Rabi 2020-21, Kharif 2021 and the ongoing Rabi 2021-22. Its been two years but neither the government nor the administration is taking any action or responsibility on the situation. The area of horticulture crops in the state is about 22 lakh hectare. The notified crops under insurance in Kharif are Orange, Banana, Papaya, Onion, Chilli, Brinjal and Tomato and in Rabi – Potato, Tomato, Brinjal, Onion, Cauliflower, Pea, Coriander, Mango, Pomegranate and Grapes . For these crops, the farmer’s premium share is 5 percent of the sum insured and the balance amount is given equally by the Central and State Governments.
Farmers have lost lakhs of rupees due to the Covid-19 lockdown, as well as damage to crops like banana, onion, orange, chilli etc. The department says that tenders have been issued many times but the decision is not taken at the government level. Two key factors for this situation are budget constraints and high tender rates.
The government is ignorant to farmer issues and is promoting doubling of farmers income and self reliance at every level.
