The Chief Minister directed officials to strengthen crop insurance after two cyclones damaged Andhra Pradesh farms. The push aims to ensure timely compensation and wider digital access for affected farmers.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed Agriculture Department officials to make crop insurance a dependable safety net for farmers after two cyclones caused heavy losses to the state's farm sector, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

Naidu called for awareness programmes on crop insurance and clear guidelines for officials working on the ground. "Ensure that crop insurance serves as a protective shield for farmers and tenant farmers against losses caused by natural calamities," he said during a teleconference, according to a press release.

Cyclones Arnab and Murasu struck Andhra Pradesh in quick succession and caused heavy losses to the agriculture sector. Naidu said 22 crops had been notified for insurance during the current Kharif season. Of these, 15 are covered by insurance based on crop yield and seven by insurance linked to weather conditions.

According to PTI, Naidu said these measures had led to a significant rise in farmer enrolment, with Andhra Pradesh ranking sixth in the country in crop insurance coverage.

"This year, we have provided insurance coverage for crops cultivated by 17.07 lakh farmers. Paddy, red gram, groundnut, cotton, chilli and maize account for 90 per cent of the total insured area. A major portion of the paddy area is in the 16 cyclone-affected districts," he said.

Naidu said farmers who receive both crop insurance and an input subsidy can recover their investments and gain financial security. He directed officials to ensure that compensation reaches every farmer who has paid the premium, adding that "no farmer should suffer losses".

The chief minister also highlighted the growing use of the Agri App and asked officials to encourage more farmers to adopt it. "There are 47 lakh farmers in the state, of whom 20 lakh have downloaded the app, and around 10 lakh use it regularly. The app offers various services, and farmers should make greater use of them," PTI quoted him as saying.

Naidu also directed officials to upload all details of crop losses to the app. He reiterated that crop insurance, compensation and wider use of the Agri App should help protect farmers from losses caused by natural calamities.

Source - https://www.indiatoday.in