After much dilemma over delay in drought relief to the farmers, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to distribute Rs 4,416 crore as crop insurance benefit to 20.47 lakh farmers from September-end.
"This is the highest relief amount the state government will pay to the farmers for 2015. It will not only be a financial help to the farmers during the crisis but will also encourage others to take up crop insurance scheme," Dr Rajesh Rajora, principal secretary of agriculture and farmer welfare department, told TOI. Of the total insurance benefit to be distributed to the farmers, the Centre and the state governments will contribute equally, he said.
Of the total 88 lakh farmers in the state, around 28.8 lakh farmers opted for crop insurance in 2015. The benefit will be distributed in all 51 districts, of which 17 districts have claims of more than Rs 100 crore. While farmers in Sehore have claimed a loss of Rs 442 crore, those in Dewas have claimed Rs 434 crore as crop insurance benefit. In Ujjain and Vidisha, more than Rs 300 crore will be distributed to the farmers while in Sagar, Hoshangabad, Shajapur, Mandsaur the claims have crossed Rs 200 crore mark.
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
