The State Government today requested the Centre to release its share of Rs 795.31 crore for settlement of crop insurance claims of the farmers for 2015 kharif season. Agricultural Insurance Corporation (AIC), the designated agency for implementing the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) has approved the claims of Rs 1,776.34 crore on October 5, 2016. "The state has already sanctioned its share (Rs 795.31 crore) which will be disbursed to the farmers as soon as the Government of India share is received," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today wrote to Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Raman Singh. The Chief Minister said that of the 21 lakh farmers of the state have been covered under NAIS during kharif-2015 season and as many as 11 lakh farmers have sustained crop loss due to drought. Farmers who had sustained crop loss due to drought during last year kharif are still waiting for their claims to be settled by the National Agricultural Insurance Company. The state government submitted its crop yield data to the Ministry of Agriculture on September 3 due to mismatch in the crop cutting reports of the Agriculture and Revenue Departments for assessment of crop loss. Wide variance in crop yield data of the two departments was not acceptable to AIC. The district collectors were asked to submit fresh reports on crop yield which took time resulting in the delay in submission of report to the Centre. "I would be grateful if you would accord your approval to the delayed submission of the crop yield data for kharif 2015 season and provide the Government of India share immediately so that claims could be released to 11.61 lakh farmers," the Chief Minister said. Admitting that the farmers have taken lot of hardship for agricultural activities during 2015-16 rabi and kharif 2016, the Chief Minister said early settlement of insurance claims will help the farmers to overcome the adverse impact of the last year drought. Source - http://www.newindianexpress.com