Government protects farmers from natural and local disasters through PMFBY: Kailash Choudhary

On completion of 5 years of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which is very popular among farmers, the Center holds a review meeting related to the upcoming expansion of the scheme at Krishi Bhavan. 

During the meeting, Government discussed the success of the plan and the upcoming goals. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary and Purushottam Rupala, along with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture were present in the meeting. 

Giving information about the scheme after the meeting, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Kailash Choudhary said, “The 5-year implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been successful. In five years the claim amount of Rs 90,000 crore has been disbursed to the farmers. Every year more than 5.5 crore farmers are enrolled under this scheme.” 

Choudhary said, “Earlier this scheme was compulsory for the indebted farmers, but by improving it, it has been made voluntary.” 

This scheme of the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proved unprecedented in the direction of agricultural prosperity. 

Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary while appealing to the farmers of the country to take advantage of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, said that the scheme has increased the coverage of the beneficiary farmers and the risk is minimized. More than crores of farmers have benefited from this scheme. Choudhary has claimed that since its launch on January 13, 2016, the farmers have been paid claims of 90 thousand crore rupees under this scheme till now. 

Around 70 lakh farmers availed this scheme even during the coronavirus lockdown. 8741.30 crore has been provided to the beneficiaries. 

Union Minister Kailash Choudhary urged farmers to take advantage of the scheme to become self-sufficient in times of crisis and support the creation of a self-sufficient farmer. 

The Minister of State for Agriculture said that local disasters caused by natural hazards such as floods, droughts, fires and famines and losses at the level of individual farming after harvesting have been included. 

The scheme was made voluntary for all farmers, as an effort to bring continuous improvement; it was reformed in February 2020. States have also been given the flexibility to rationalize the insurance amount so that sufficient benefits can be availed by the farmers.