New Delhi [India], August 12 (ANI): Demonstrating the government’s commitment to farmer welfare, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday digitally transferred crop insurance payouts under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana directly to farmers’ bank accounts from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Around $3,900 crore was disbursed to the accounts of nearly 3.5 million farmers.
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said the nation is witnessing the formation of a remarkable India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that Rajasthan will soon receive water from the Yamuna, Chambal, and Indus rivers. The Minister recalled that India had strongly retaliated to the Pahalgam terror attack, destroying terrorist bases through “Operation Sindoor,” a decision taken solely by India without any third-party involvement. He said military actions ceased only after Pakistan bowed before India’s might.
Chouhan explained that under earlier governments, crop insurance compensations were provided only when crops in an entire tehsil or block were destroyed. Prime Minister Modi scrapped the old schemes and introduced an insurance plan under which compensations are paid even if the crop of a single farmer in a village is damaged.
He stressed that the government is working through multiple schemes to improve farmers’ lives. Under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, $3.75 lakh crore has been directly transferred to farmers’ accounts. Since the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in 2016, $2.12 lakh crore has been paid to farmers. He also highlighted substantial fertilizer subsidies, noting that a 45-kg bag of urea costs farmers ₹266 against its actual price of ₹1,633.24, with the difference covered by the government. Similarly, a 50-kg bag of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) costs ₹1,350 against its actual price of ₹3,100. So far, ₹14.06 lakh crore has been provided to fertilizer companies to ensure affordable fertilizers for farmers.
Chouhan also referred to other welfare measures, stating that the government has raised minimum support price (MSP) rates, ensuring they are set at 50 percent above production costs. The government decided to procure moong at ₹2,000 per quintal. Under the PM-AASHA scheme (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan), ₹43.87 lakh crore has been transferred to farmers’ accounts for wheat and paddy procurement. The Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) allows farmers to sell produce in other states with the government covering transport costs.
On the issue of counterfeit fertilizers, the Minister said steps are being taken to introduce a stringent law to punish offenders, with work already underway to ensure strict action and imprisonment for the guilty.
He added that in cases of crop virus attacks, if farmers share information or even send a photo, a team of scientists will immediately reach the village to assist.
Chouhan said that after the Kharif season, under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, teams of scientists will visit villages for the Rabi crop season to share accurate farming and research knowledge. Future agricultural research will be demand-driven, based on farmers’ needs, with a focus on developing quality seeds for moong, urad, soybean, and millet to increase production.
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