Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced the release of crop insurance claims worth Rs 4,500 crore for around 19 lakh farmers whose fields were ruined by heavy rainfall last year. The Chief Minister made the announcement during his visit to Khategaon area in Dewas district that has been badly affected by heavy downpour over the last two weeks.
Chouhan met with farmers and checked the extent of damage, mainly to soyabean crops. It is important to mention that Madhya Pradesh is the biggest producer of oilseed in the country.
During his first visit to the region, the Chief Minister assured all help to the farmers. He said “If the farmers are worried then Shivraj Singh Chouhan cannot sit silently. The reports of such damage to the crops have only started coming in since the past three to four days.”
Inspiring farmers to insure their crops, Chouhan also extended the deadline of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to 31st August.
On the other hand, the Soybean Oil Processors Association (SOPA) recently estimated a 10 to 12% hit to the oilseed’s production due to the rains that have also affected Indore, Ujjain, Dhar, Harda, Sehor Shajapur, Neemuch and Mandsaur districts.
Kamal Nath, State Congress President, a day before, had constituted a team of 5 Congress leaders to visit Datia to evaluate crop damage. He had to submit a report to PM Narendra Modi asking for a relief package.
