Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the State Government would come up with a farmer-friendly crop insurance scheme or set up a farmers' welfare cell to help out farmers at the time of any calamity and other adverse conditions. Chouhan was addressing a meeting of farmers after inspecting a wheat procurement centre at Kamlapur in Dewas district on Thursday. Minister of State for Education Paras Jain was also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that the existing crop insurance scheme has failed to provide desired benefits to farmers. The Government is seriously considering formulating a new farmer-friendly scheme for which negotiations are on with insurance companies. In case insurance companies do not agree, then the Government would set up a farmers' welfare cell to help farmers in case of crop loss due to natural calamities or decrease in production or unexpected fall in prices of farm produces. He informed that assistance of Rs2,187 crore was provided to calamity affected farmers last year.
Chouhan said that this year arrangements have been made to ensure that the farmers are not required to spend night at procurement centre. Their wheat would be purchased the same day when they bring it to the centre and the payment against the purchase would be made within 7 days. He informed that it is under consideration to provide a part of the amount provided as fertilisers and seed loan to the farmers.
The scheme would be finalised soon. He asked the farmers to make advance storage of fertilisers and seeds to avoid problems in future. He said that no interest would be taken on advance storage for 3 months. The Chief Minister also talked to farmers at the procurement centre. The farmers expressed satisfaction over the arrangements there.