Kakinada: The process for insuring agricultural crops under Pradhana Mantrhi Fasal Bima Yojana is expected to commence in the state soon, while the date for payment of insurance amount is approaching.
The farmers are expressing concern over the delay as heavy rains are expected during the Kharif season in the coming months. Farmers say they have incurred heavy losses due to the rain and floods last month. They lost the plants they transplanted and the nurseries were flooded.
According to the scheme, the state government and the farmer bear 25 per cent of the premium amount and the remaining by the central government.
The YSRC government had, in its first year, collected a token of Rs 1 from each farmer. Later, the government paid the farmer’s share and did the insurance for their farms free of cost. Last year, the YSRC government floated an insurance company, but the central government did not recognise this. Hence, the farmers could not claim the insurance amount.
“As per norms, the state government should invite bids from insurance companies district-wise after completing the E-crop record process. Claims are based on the crop variety.
The period for payment of insurance amount for the Kharif season will be up to the end of August. The government did not invite tenders for the insurance so far,’’ said T Gopalakrishna, state convener of Bharatiya Agro and Economic Research Centre.
He said farmers are anxious as there will be heavy rain and floods in the coming months and there is a possibility of damage to crops. The state government should immediately pay the insurance amount on behalf of the farmers and start the process.
AP Rythu Sangham state joint secretary K Srinivas said the government should notify the crops immediately and apply for insurance amounts to all crops in the districts. Farmers could not get the insurance amounts for the losses suffered to their crops due to disasters last year.
This year also, the government said the insurance claim is not applicable to farmers who incurred losses in the cyclones, heavy rains and floods last month due to the stipulation of a 30 days period.
The governments say the insurance would be given to the crops in the event of a loss of 33 per cent, he said, and proposed that this rule should be lifted for the benefit of farmers. “The claim should be applied for in any stage of the crop. The government should complete the insurance process by June.”
Meanwhile, East Godavari collector Prashanthi convened a meeting with officials on Monday evening to discuss the E-crop recording process. She asked officials to complete the recording of e-crop including Joint Land Property Mapping by Sept 15.
The collector said only 60 per cent of e-crop recording has been completed in the district. There was inadequate response from officials of Rajanagaram, Kadiyam, Devarapalli, Nallajerla and Korukonda, as the recording there was below 60 percent, she noted.
