Ready to implement the new crop insurance scheme, Rajasthan government today said it was prepared to pay and match its share of premium under the scheme beginning next Kharif crop (summer-sown) in the state.
"This is the best crop insurance scheme the country ever had and it will benefit farmers to pay less premium of 2 per cent for Kharif crop and 1.5 per cent for Rabi crops," Agriculture Minister Prabhu Lal Saini, and state BJP President Ashok Parnami said while addressing a joint press conference.
"It would be a protection cover to farmers who avail crop insurance and witness any weather related calamity including hailstorm, landslide, and water inundation due to excess rainfall.
"The state government would match its share of 50 per cent with the central government in crop insurance whatever it is after assessment," Saini said.
A compensation of kharif crop damage worth Rs 588 crore would be paid to 33 lakh farmers by the end of this month, and the state is awaiting the Central government's approval, he said.
Comparing Raje government's contribution as against previous Gehlot government, the Agriculture Minister said a compensation of Rs 2,511.38 crore was given to the farmers during 2013-15 in the state.
The farmers had paid a sum of Rs 988.75 crore as premium against crop loan, and the state and Central government paid Rs 1,453 crore in the year 2013-15, he added.
On a question related to weak winter season in the state, Saini said the food production could decline if there were no winter rains and cold winter by this month.
The agriculture department has been directed to prevent insect attack on standing major crops of wheat and mustard, he added.
State party president Parnami said the new crop scheme was a real gift to farmers of the country with a unified policy and concessions to meet weather challenges.
The new scheme would enable farmers to settle their compensation, Parnami hailed.
