PMFBY has Helped many Farmers Achieve Goals – Shanthaveerappa Gowda
Udupi: The new crop insurance scheme, called Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), has given many benefits to farmers that earlier insurance schemes did not have, said Shanthaveerappa Gowda, vice president of state BJP’s Raitha Morcha. He was addressing a press meet at the BJP office, Kadiyali here on July 19.
The new plan is cheaper than the old insurance schemes. The premium to be paid by farmers is restricted to 2 per cent for kharif crops and 1.5 per cent for rabi crops. There is coverage of localised risk and post-harvest loss. The mandatory use of technology might help in better and more efficient data collection and faster claim settlements. Grain and horticulture crops cultivated in rain-fed areas are also notified under the plan. The relief will be decided on available data of yield, said Gowda.
“After becoming the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Ananth Kumar has reduced the prices of key fertilisers in the country. The production of neem-coated urea has ensured that there is no shortage of urea across the country. The Prime Minister is always responding to the problems of the common man and the farmers at the forefront. The government has always been farmer friendly with many schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna, agricultural loans, Soil card and others. The government has implemented many farmer-friendly projects which are directly helping the farmers of the country,” he added.
He also said that under the Soil Health Mission, the union government has introduced the concept of Soil Health Cards for farmers across the country. “These cards will be ensure field specific detailed report of soil fertility status and other important soil parameters that affect crop productivity. It will provide a basis to include nutrient deficiencies in fertilisation practices.”
“The previous BJP government had decided to give five acres of kumki land free to the farmers and fixed a fee for additional kumki land. The Cabinet had taken a decision to hand over kumki rights to the farmers. A gazette notification was also passed in this regard. However, the Congress-led government has delayed the process of ensuring kumki rights to the farmers. There is no doubt that kumki land belongs to farmers. There are 2 lakh farmers in Udupi district. The government should do injustice with the farmers.”
“In Udupi district wild animals have been attacking fields and damaging crops in the last few years. Nearly 50 per cent of farms in the district were facing attacks from wild animals. The state government is not giving proper compensation for crop damage. The government should take a proper decision in this regard,” added Gowda.
Mattar Rathnakar Hegde (president, Udupi district BJP), Ranu Kumar (Secretary, state Raitha Morcha), Mutlupadi Sathish Shetty (president, district Raitha Morcha), Kutharu Naveen Shetty, Katapadi Shanker Poojary, Sandhya Ramesh, Raghavendra Uppor, Shrinivas Sharma, Praveen Shetty and others were present.