Many farmers in the state of Maharashtra have reportedly received extremely meagre compensation for crop losses caused by severe rain, with one cultivator receiving only Rs 90.
State's agriculture minister Abdul Sattar acknowledged that some farmers had gotten extremely small payments, but added that the government will work to expand insurance coverage and create a dynamic system for settling claims.
7.48 lakh farmers from the Aurangabad district used the government's crop insurance programme in kharif season this year, according to the state relief and rehabilitation department sources. However, only 1.84 lakh farmers' claims have been approved by the insurance company despite the widespread excessive rains that occurred just before the Diwali festival.
According to the state government data, just 20,226 of the 1.03 lakh farmers who filed claims for crop damage caused by excessive rain in Ahmednagar have had their claims confirmed, and a total of Rs 9.78 crore has been paid out.
Farmers claimed that they have paid over Rs 2,000 for insuring their harvest against any natural calamity.
A farmer reportedly received Rs. 90 as compensation after the verabundant rains severely damaged his two-acre cotton plot, while another crop producer got a payment of just Rs 356.
One named Gopal Rahane from Buldhana district's Khamangaon tehsil, told news agency PTI earned Rs. 1,147 for his cotton harvest, which covered about a hectare of land, despite having paid a premium of Rs. 2,819 for it. He has been guaranteed a total of Rs. 56,384 under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Rahane said that despite the substantial loss of his cotton plantation, he only received Rs 1,147.
Meanwhile, the leader of opposition Ajit Pawar recently requested that the state government to simplify the crop insurance programme and its payment process.
"Do not compel the farmers to file a lawsuit against the state government in court", he added.
Pawar had stated to reporters in Mumbai that farmers should receive proper compensation as a result of the widespread crop losses.
However, Sattar promised to address the matter of farmers' insurance claims quickly.
It's true that some farmers only received very small payments, but the insurance coverage will be expanded, and the claims settlement system will be made more dynamic, he assured.
On the other hand, onion farmers in the state have announced to conduct widespread protest this week, if Maharashtra government does not raise the price of vegetables soon. Their threat follows the collapse of onion prices to below the cost of production at Asia's biggest onion market.
Farmers at the wholesale market Lasalgaon Mandi in Nashik district of Maharashtra halted auctions and gave the government an eight-day deadline.
