Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has released Rs 596.36 crore insurance benefit to over 5.94 lakh farmers in the State for the year 2018-19, which growers could not get due to previous TDP government’s failure to give the premium to insurance companies. During an interaction with farmers through a video conference Reddy said so many cultivators being denied the insurance amount for the damaged crops shows how the state of affairs were during the previous TDP regime.
Chief Minister said, “Crop insurance premium is basically paid by 3 people — farmers, State government & Central government. In 2018-19, farmers gave the amount and the Centre also paid its share, but State government failed to clear its share of Rs 126 crore. And when the insurance premium is paid in time, the growers stand to get the insurance amount in case of crop loss”.
He said, seeing the plight of farmers of the state, the YSRC government negotiated with the insurance companies, told them about the losses sustained by farmers and finally made them agree to pay the insurance amount, while clearing the old dues of Rs 126 crore.
At present, 5.94 lakh farmers are being paid Rs 596 crore insurance amount. Reddy explained, “To ensure that such type of situation does not arise again and see that growers are not subjected to any inconvenience, we have made changes in the crop insurance. Henceforth, farmers’ share of the crop insurance premium would be paid by State government on their behalf. All they need to do is pay Rs 1 as premium after completing the e-Cropping with the help of agriculture assistant; surveyor & village assistant stationed at respective village secretariats as well as Rythu Bharosa Kendras. These three people will conduct a joint survey & complete e-Cropping and insurance registration formalities”.
The CM said that YSR Rythu Bharosa scheme facilitates crop loans, e-Crop insurance, quality seeds, pesticides and fertilisers and provision of advice to grow suitable crop to achieve optimum yield, besides ensuring minimum support price (MSP) for the farm produce.
