He says, officials should select fields for surveys in presence of farmers.

Aland MLA B R Patil urged the officials concerned to conduct meetings at gram panchayats and select fields for crop-cutting surveys in the presence of farmers to ensure that drought-hit farmers receive compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, he said inadequate rainfall due to the impact of El Nino has affected sowing this year, creating drought-like condition. “In such a situation, it is essential to support farmers. Compensation under the crop insurance scheme will reach affected farmers only when officials prepare and submit scientific crop survey reports. This will also help restore farmers’ faith in the scheme,” he said.

Patil alleged that during 2025–26, insurance companies and the departments concerned conducted crop-cutting surveys unilaterally without informing insured farmers. As a result, farmers in six gram panchayat limits of Aland taluk had not received the second instalment of crop insurance compensation.

He urged the district administration to investigate the matter and ensure that insurance companies paid the compensation along with interest.

“Village accountants and agriculture officers must visit fields and conduct crop-cutting surveys. However, Aland taluk has only three agriculture officers and no field assistants. The tahsildar is defending the report submitted by village accountants to cover up his own lapses. The district administration must handle the issue carefully, particularly as the district is facing drought this year,” he said.

Asked about the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Patil remarked: “I am like a guest in the party. I have no information.” Advocate Vaijanath Zhalaki was present.

Entrust crop insurance to government agencies 

Aland MLA B R Patil said the decision of the Union and state governments to entrust the implementation of PMFBY to private companies is inappropriate.

Speaking to media persons here on Sunday he said: “Employees of private companies are not agriculture graduates. The scheme should be entrusted to the Agriculture Department and government insurance agencies.”

He also demanded that the practice of preparing reports and determining compensation based on the average yield of the previous seven years be discontinued. “The rule should be amended immediately. Compensation must be calculated based on the actual yield of the respective year in which farmers suffer crop losses," he added.

 

Source - https://www.deccanherald.com