Bengal aims to bring 60 lakh farmers under crop cover

West Bengal government is hopeful of bringing near to sixty lakh farmers beneath its flagship agriculture insurance plan scheme – ‘Bangla Shasya Bima (BSB)’ – through kharif 2020. The scheme, which was released in 2019, coated near to forty six lakh farmers through the rabi year.

In accordance to Pradip Kumar Mazumder, Chief Advisor (Agriculture) to the Chief Minister, there are near to sixty eight lakh farmers in the Condition developing aman (kharif) paddy. The enrolment procedure for kharif 2020 will be open up until September 15.

 

Transferring absent from PMFBY

West Bengal was just one of the main States to shift absent from PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) in 2018 as most of its farmers had been not able to add their programs. The enrolment home windows had been “choked” and regardless of recurring requests, the Centre did not give additional time. Additionally, in perspective of the reduce promises than the top quality compensated beneath PMFBY, the Condition government decided to start its have scheme in 2019 along with Agriculture Insurance coverage Firm of India Ltd. Under the scheme, the total top quality is borne by the Condition government.

In accordance to resources, the government is approximated to have invested near to ₹450 crore for the sleek jogging of the scheme and has brought a lot more than 21 lakh hectares of cultivable land beneath the scheme, covering crops these as aman paddy, aus paddy, jute and maize.

“In 2019 rabi (winter season) year, we coated near to forty six lakh farmers. Now in 2020, with the form of limitations that are in place owing to pandemic and owing to social distancing and other safety measures we are steering clear of any congregation of farmers to the extent probable. We are auto migrating people forty six lakh farmers of rabi crop with the choice of transforming the crop and area for aman paddy. This apart, we are striving to insert all people farmers who are beneath our Krishak Bondhu scheme and are also endeavor publicity action. We will enable enrolment of farmers until September 15, so it is ongoing. We hope the quantities ought to absolutely exceed fifty five-sixty lakh,” Mazumder instructed BusinessLine.

 

To cover lessee farmers

The scheme is applicable for oral lessee, share-croppers and other smaller and marginal farmers as the Condition feels that the insurance plan ought to be manufactured readily available for the crop as a total.

“The insurance plan is for the crop and not the particular person. So if a particular person is not possessing the plot but is a legitimate particular person who is farming the plot then if there is any reduction then the payment will accrue to him. We are not insisting on ROR (history of rights),” he explained.

 

Pace up claim settlement

In the meantime, with a perspective to pace up the procedure of claim settlement for farmers, the Condition government strategies to use the know-how-driven information selection method of ISRO to validate and assess the quantum of destruction brought about to crops owing to serious temperature. The Condition government strategies to utilize the distant sensing satellite information-acquisition know-how to gauge the hurt brought about to the crops, if any, through the kharif year.

Weak protection

Avik Saha, Nationwide Convenor, Jai Kisan Andolan, explained, “As for every government estimates forty six lakh farmers have been coated beneath the scheme so far and near to 21 lakh hectares of cultivable land has been brought beneath the scheme. Even so, this seems to be a bit inflated presented the point that a majority of farmers in the Condition are smaller and marginal farmers with an common keeping of close to .seventy seven hectares. So if forty six lakh farmers (as has been claimed) had been coated beneath the scheme then the overall area beneath protection ought to have been a lot bigger. This by itself lays bare the claim of the Condition government.”

Additionally, the State’s scheme handles only paddy, maize and jute though other crops these as greens, wheat etcetera are still left exterior the purview of the scheme, he extra.

Cyclone Amphan

The the latest cyclone Amphan, which strike the Condition in Might, experienced brought about a enormous hurt to crops together with paddy, sesame and greens. It experienced also wrecked the mango orchards and betel crops. Consequently, insurance plan protection for farmers turn out to be very important to compensate from losses arising out of these catastrophic functions.

In accordance to stories, the Condition government allotted ₹300 crore, at the level of ₹1,five hundred every single for 20 lakh farmers. An additional ₹200 crore was allotted for betel-leaf farmers.