“Committees Set up to Timely Settle Crop Damage Claims by Farmers”: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State of Science & Technology & Minister of State of Earth Sciences has informed that Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has set up two committees to decrease the delay in crop damage estimation and also affirm timely settlements of claims by farmers.

The two Committees are led by the Director of Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre, which is under the body of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The first one has been focused as the Committee for Nationwide Implementation of Technology-Based Crop Yield Estimation and the other one is the Committee for Standardization and Improvement of Weather Data Infrastructure.

The Committee on Yield Estimation is on the task of making a survey report in 45 days following which the Standard Operating Procedures will be prepared and Technology Implementation Partners will be admitted. The Weather Data Infrastructure Committee has been assigned to work along the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to build the Weather Information Network Data System which will be responsible for implementation of a system of Automatic Weather Stations and Automatic Rain Gauges across the country.

The Committees will have deputation from the states of Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan Government. In addition to these representatives, the central government will be instrumental in providing experts from concerned Ministries and Departments. 

Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa scheme undertaken by the Indian Meteorological Department benefits farmers by creating a mid-level weather forecasts for five consecutive days at district level, based on which 130 Agromet Field Units located at the State Agricultural Universities, ICAR Institutes, and IITs design a set of Agromet Advisories for their designated regions communicating them to the farmers to help their daily decision-making for farming practices.

The Agrometeorological Advisory Services by the Meteorological Dept. is instrumental in planning and strategizing agriculture and livestock management for optimum yield as well as mating a standard of food security by reducing threats of crop loss due to natural calamities and drastic weather changes. The sudden challenges of erratic weather due to climate change, Dr. Jitendra stated, the Indian Meteorological Department is an important body in ensuring crop protection through punctual warnings and forecasts to the entire nation. 

Agromet Advisories are now sent out through social media for quicker reach and at the present moment farmers of 1,21,235 villages in 3,636 Blocks have been included through 16,262 WhatsApp groups which also have the State Agriculture Department officials of District and Block level as members.