Senior Congress leader, Rajya Sabha MP and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Monday questioned the Centre’s agricultural policies, citing a reported decline in enrolment under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and a sharp fall in cotton cultivation in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Randhawa claimed that 73 lakh farmers, or 29.6 per cent, have opted out of the crop insurance scheme over the past two years, which he said reflected growing dissatisfaction among farmers with the implementation of the scheme.
He also pointed to a reported 6.77 lakh-acre decline in cotton acreage across Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan within a year, with Punjab recording the biggest decline. Describing cotton as “white gold” for farmers in the region, Randhawa said the fall in cultivation reflected concerns over pest attacks, rising input costs, declining yields and market uncertainty.
He questioned why, despite the Centre’s farmer-oriented policies, large numbers of farmers were reportedly moving away from crop insurance and cotton cultivation.
Randhawa said one of the major concerns with the crop insurance scheme was the manner in which crop losses are assessed. According to him, damage suffered by an individual farmer can differ substantially from the average crop loss recorded across an assessment area, potentially affecting the compensation received.
He also raised concerns over delays in crop-loss surveys, re-surveys and settlement of insurance claims, saying farmers often face lengthy procedures before receiving compensation.
On cotton cultivation, Randhawa said farmers were facing multiple challenges, including pest attacks, higher input costs, lower yields and fluctuations in market prices. He said the combination of these factors was making cotton cultivation increasingly uncertain for farmers.
Randhawa demanded that the Centre review the existing crop-loss assessment mechanism under the insurance scheme and consider field-level assessment of actual losses. He also called for full compensation in cases of complete crop loss, effective government procurement and a stronger market mechanism for cotton growers.
He further urged the Centre to formulate a comprehensive policy aimed at improving farmers’ incomes and providing greater security against crop losses and market-related risks.
Source - https://www.babushahi.com
