Agriculture Minister Launches ‘Meri Policy Mere Haath’ Campaign Under PM Crop Insurance Scheme

Farmers Receive Crop Insurance Policy Documents

Minister Reaffirms Government’s Commitment to Farmers and Livestock Owners’ Welfare

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Prof. Chandra Kumar launched the district-level campaign ‘Meri Policy Mere Haath’ under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) at a farmer’s seminar held at the local rest house today. This initiative aims to provide farmers with their crop insurance policy documents directly.

During the event, the Agriculture Minister emphasized that the state government is committed to the economic security and welfare of farmers and livestock owners. He highlighted that PMFBY is a crucial scheme designed to protect farmers from crop losses caused by natural disasters. He also encouraged farmers to apply for Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) and explained that those who have availed loans under KCC automatically get their crops insured by the bank. Farmers can also insure their crops through the official portal or by visiting any Lok Mitra Kendra (Common Service Center).

Over 33,000 Farmers Insured in Kangra District

The Minister informed that before December 15, a total of 33,236 farmers in Kangra district had insured their wheat and barley crops. Their policy documents will be distributed within the next two weeks.

For the 2023 Kharif season, 30,916 farmers in Kangra district registered for maize and paddy crop insurance by paying a premium of ₹3.46 crore. In return, 12,102 farmers received a compensation of ₹5.43 crore for crop losses due to natural disasters.

The Minister detailed the insurance premium and compensation rates:

• Wheat: ₹72 per bigha premium, with a maximum claim of ₹4,800 per bigha.
• Barley: ₹60 per bigha premium, with a maximum claim of ₹4,000 per bigha.

In case of hailstorms or waterlogging, farmers must report losses within 72 hours by contacting Chhima General Insurance Ltd.’s toll-free number: 1800 572 3013.

Government Initiatives for Farmers and Livestock Owners

The Agriculture Minister stated that the government has introduced several measures to support farmers, including:

• Subsidies on agricultural equipment.
• Procurement of naturally grown wheat and maize at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
• Expansion of irrigation facilities.
• Soil Health Card Scheme for better soil management.

To boost the dairy industry, the government has set MSPs for milk procurement:

• ₹45 per liter for cow milk.
• ₹55 per liter for buffalo milk.

Additionally, modern milk processing plants are being established in the state. A scheme has also been introduced to purchase organic manure from livestock owners at ₹300 per quintal. This initiative aims to financially support livestock farmers while promoting organic farming, soil fertility, and environmental conservation.

Officials Encourage Farmers to Maximize Benefits of PMFBY

Additional Agriculture Director Dr. Rahul Katoch reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering farmers economically and urged them to take full advantage of PMFBY to protect their crops.

Deputy Agriculture Director Dr. Kuldeep Dhiman also provided details about various government schemes available for farmers.

Farmers Share Experiences; Policy Documents Distributed

Farmers attending the seminar shared their experiences regarding farming practices. During the event, the Agriculture Minister handed over crop insurance policy documents to 10 farmers.

The program was attended by:

• Joint Agriculture Director Dr. Rahul Katoch
• Deputy Agriculture Director Dr. Kuldeep Dhiman
• Associate Director Dr. Vipin Guleria
• SDSCO Chanchal Rana
• SMS Jyoti Raina
• ADO Rajiv Sharma, Sunita Walia, Vijay Sharma
• Congress spokesperson Sansar Singh Sansari
• Former Block President Chain Singh Guleria
• Several other farmers and dignitaries

This initiative marks a significant step in ensuring farmers receive direct access to their crop insurance policies and benefit from government welfare schemes.