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their name and what are the terms
and conditions.
5. The field is not visited by the of-
ficials of insurance companies
or banks when the crop is in-
sured. Many times, wrong crops
are insured. When the team vis-
its to verify the claim, the claim is
rejected due to wrong crop.
6. Option of change of crop is not there.
7. As per guidelines, claim is to be given
with in 15 days, but most farmers do
not get it even in four months and
sometimes it becomes an ordeal.
8. The headquarters of the Insurance
Companies are in state capitals, not
approachable by farmers.
9. The anomalies exist in calculating
loss as the official appointed by the
state government is usually from the
revenue department and not an ex-
pert in agronomy.
10. The assessment of loss is made on
the basis of average production of
last seven years. But there are areas
where the yield remains low due to
natural calamities and lack of irriga- “This policy will be different from
tion facilities. Thus, the average yield PMFBY and will be financially benefi-
remains low and farmers do not get cial for the farmers”, he apprised. Now
benefit. it rests with the state government has
to approve and roll out the crop insur-
Crop Insurance in Punjab ance policy for the farmers of the state,
Punjab did not accept the PMFBY he added.
proposed by the Government of The farmers in Punjab, particularly
India. Though the Union Ministry of in Malwa belt which also known as cot-
Agriculture made amendments in the ton growing belt of Punjab suffer huge
original draft of crop insurance on loss and need insurance cover as cotton
the basis of feedback of the states, it crop is susceptible to pest attack. The
was not commensurate with the To resolve the pest ‘white-fly’ caused extensive dam-
demands of Punjab. The suggestions age to cotton crop in Punjab in 2015-16
made by the Punjab Government were local issues of the and many farmers committed suicides
not incorporated in the revised guide- farmers, insurance due to economic repercussions of crop
lines of PMFBY so the state govern- loss. The wheat crop is also damaged
ment decided to conceive its own crop companies have been in the state due to yellow rust (a fungal
insurance policy to match the needs directed to appoint disease).
of enterprising but distressed farmers Besides this, the hail storm and other
of Punjab. officials in district weather vagaries undermine the yield
The state government then engaged of different crops in different parts of
the Punjab State Farmers’ and Farm headquarters. the state. Though paddy and wheat are
Workers’ Commission to prepare a The companies the major crops followed by cotton,
policy in this regard. The Chairman sugarcane, maize and potato; horticul-
of the Commission Ajayvir Jhakar committed to adhere ture crops like kinnow and oilseeds are
informed Tehelka that the policy has to the guidelines but also grown in Punjab.
been formulated and submitted to
the state Government very recently. are yet to deliver letters@tehelka.com

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