Bengal aims to bring 60 lakh farmers under crop cover

West Bengal govt is hopeful of bringing near to sixty lakh farmers less than its flagship agriculture insurance coverage scheme – ‘Bangla Shasya Bima (BSB)’ – throughout kharif 2020. The scheme, which was introduced in 2019, lined near to 46 lakh farmers throughout the rabi season.

According to Pradip Kumar Mazumder, Main Advisor (Agriculture) to the Main Minister, there are near to 68 lakh farmers in the Condition developing aman (kharif) paddy. The enrolment process for kharif 2020 will be open till September 15.

Shifting away from PMFBY

West Bengal was one particular of the main States to shift away from PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) in 2018 as most of its farmers had been unable to upload their apps. The enrolment home windows had been “choked” and inspite of recurring requests, the Centre did not give further time. In addition, in watch of the lower statements than the high quality paid out less than PMFBY, the Condition govt determined to launch its own scheme in 2019 along with Agriculture Insurance policies Company of India Ltd. Under the scheme, the full high quality is borne by the Condition govt.

According to resources, the govt is believed to have spent near to ₹450 crore for the clean managing of the scheme and has introduced additional than 21 lakh hectares of cultivable land less than the scheme, covering crops these kinds of as aman paddy, aus paddy, jute and maize.

“In 2019 rabi (wintertime) season, we lined near to 46 lakh farmers. Now in 2020, with the type of limits that are in area due to pandemic and due to social distancing and other safety measures we are preventing any congregation of farmers to the extent attainable. We are automobile migrating these 46 lakh farmers of rabi crop with the possibility of switching the crop and location for aman paddy. This apart, we are seeking to incorporate all these farmers who are less than our Krishak Bondhu scheme and are also enterprise publicity activity. We will make it possible for enrolment of farmers till September 15, so it is ongoing. We assume the figures should unquestionably exceed 55-sixty lakh,” Mazumder instructed BusinessLine.

To include lessee farmers

The scheme is relevant for oral lessee, share-croppers and other compact and marginal farmers as the Condition feels that the insurance coverage should be designed available for the crop as a full.

“The insurance coverage is for the crop and not the human being. So if a human being is not proudly owning the plot but is a legitimate human being who is farming the plot then if there is any loss then the payment will accrue to him. We are not insisting on ROR (file of legal rights),” he stated.

Speed up declare settlement

Meanwhile, with a watch to pace up the process of declare settlement for farmers, the Condition govt designs to use the know-how-driven details collection technique of ISRO to confirm and assess the quantum of destruction induced to crops due to extreme weather. The Condition govt designs to hire the distant sensing satellite details-acquisition know-how to gauge the problems induced to the crops, if any, throughout the kharif season.

Poor protection

Avik Saha, Countrywide Convenor, Jai Kisan Andolan, stated, “As for each govt estimates 46 lakh farmers have been lined less than the scheme so far and near to 21 lakh hectares of cultivable land has been introduced less than the scheme. Nonetheless, this appears to be like a bit inflated presented the truth that a greater part of farmers in the Condition are compact and marginal farmers with an typical holding of around .seventy seven hectares. So if 46 lakh farmers (as has been claimed) had been lined less than the scheme then the overall location less than protection should have been much bigger. This alone lays bare the declare of the Condition govt.”

In addition, the State’s scheme handles only paddy, maize and jute when other crops these kinds of as greens, wheat and so forth are left outside the purview of the scheme, he extra.

Cyclone Amphan

The recent cyclone Amphan, which strike the Condition in May possibly, experienced induced a enormous problems to crops like paddy, sesame and greens. It experienced also wrecked the mango orchards and betel crops. Hence, insurance coverage protection for farmers become crucial to compensate in opposition to losses arising out of these kinds of catastrophic functions.

According to stories, the Condition govt allotted ₹300 crore, at the price of ₹1,500 every single for twenty lakh farmers. One more ₹200 crore was allotted for betel-leaf farmers.