Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Radha Mohan Singh on Sunday said that the number of farmers opting for the ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ this year is expected to cross 4 crore, against 3 crore last year.
As many as 200 mandis across the country would be brought under the ambit of the scheme by next month. While 400 mandis would be made online by March 2017, as many as 585 mandis would go online by 2018, said the Union Minister while interacting with mediapersons before attending a programme at Sampla in Rohtak district.
The facility of e-Mandis was launched on April 14 to enable the farmers to sell their produce in any part of the country from anywhere. The scheme sought to make agriculture risk-free for farmers but political leaders out to serve their own political agenda, were not able to comprehend it, said he.
Earlier, crop insurance schemes profited insurance companies and farmers were not compensated for the losses due to crop damage caused by natural calamities after the harvest. Besides, premium rates differed from location to location. But the 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ is farmer-friendly. The farmers are required to pay only minimal premium and can claim compensation for the losses caused by natural calamities up to 14 days after the harvest, he added.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment towards increasing the income of farmers, the Minister said that production would have to be increased and the cost of production decreased.
The Government has made it a mission to provide electricity to each household by March 1, 2018, and has provided separate toilets for girls across the country in one year, he added.
later, addressing a public meeting, Singh said that the Tiranga Yatra was launched throughout the country on August 9 to mark 70 years of freedom. The Yatra which would continue till August 22, seeks to serve as a reminder to the bravery and sacrifices made by the martyrs and freedom fighters.
He also visited the ancestral house of Sir Chhotu Ram at Garhi and went around the museum set up in his name.