22 States have Introduced New Crop Insurance Scheme

As many as 22 states, barring Bihar and Punjab, have introduced the new crop insurance scheme and the Centre has extended the last date to August 10 to enable more farmers. avail its benefits, Rajya Sabha was informed today. "As many as 22 states have started the new Prime Minister's crop insurance scheme for this kharif season. The last date under the scheme has been extended from July 31 to August 10 by the government."I am confident that by August 10, the crop insurance would be much more than done last year," Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said during Question Hour.

He said Bihar has been left out of the scheme as the Chief Minister had some reservations and the state has not issued the necessary notification. The Minister also said that the scheme is not applicable in Punjab as the state government has not introduced it. Singh said the premium under the crop insurance scheme this time is the lowest ever with 1.5% for the rabi crops and 5% for kharif crops. "This is the lowest premium ever in the history." He said the number of  farmers. availing the benefit of the crop insurance scheme was much more than earlier. While in Karnataka alone, from 8.72 lakh farmers. taking the insurance scheme last year, this year there are over 12 lakh farmers. availing the benefit.

In Jharkhand, 7.5 lakh farmeRs. have registered under the scheme as against 5.36 lakh last year and in Gujarat too the number has doubled. When senior Congress member Digvijay Singh said the government has not implemented the Swaminathan Committee recommendations though promised, Singh said "the Committee's recommendations were rejected by the previous Congress government. We are, however, working to help increase the farmers.' income to double." The Agriculture Minister also said that a high level committee after giving due consideration to the report of Inter Ministerial Central Team, has decided to approve Rs. 79.18 crore by way of assistance on account of hailstorm to Rajasthan.