Shivraj Singh Chouhan Orders Swift Resolution on Soyabean Crop Insurance Claims

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed pending soyabean crop insurance claims in Nanded. Instructions were given for immediate resolution, with about 2 million farmers set to receive overdue payments. A committee has mandated the insurance company to settle claims within a week.

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan interacted with farmers in Nanded on Saturday regarding issues of pending insurance for their soyabean crop, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said in a statement.

Farmers from the Parbhani district informed the Union Minister about delayed insurance claims for their soyabean crop. In response, Chouhan instructed the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Officials to resolve the issue immediately. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare convened a National Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting on August 22, 2024, to address the issue.

During the meeting, the TAC dismissed the insurance company's objections related to crop-cutting trials and instructed them to settle the outstanding claims. As a result, approximately 2,000,000 farmers in the Parbhani district will receive pending claims amounting to Rs 200-225 crores.

The Central Technical Advisory Committee has ordered the insurance company to clear the due claims within a week starting from August 24, 2024. The government remains committed to resolving farmers' issues and has been implementing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) since 2016.

The government has made numerous interventions to ensure better transparency, accountability, and timely payment of claims under the PMFBY, resulting in unprecedented coverage for the 2023-24 period. The scheme is now the world's largest in terms of farmer applications insured. PMFBY guidelines cap the farmer's premium share at 2% for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops. Several states have even waived the farmer's share, reducing their financial burden.

As of August 6, the Ministry reported that out of the total claimed Rs 1,67,475 crore, Rs 1,63,519 crore (98%) has already been paid. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)