Shivamogga MP B.S. Yeddyurappa has expressed displeasure over the poor progress recorded by the district in the enrolment to Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), a crop insurance scheme. He was speaking at a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DDCMC) held in the city on Saturday to review the progress of implementation of various Union government-sponsored schemes.
Lack of awarenessK. Madhusudan, joint director, Department of Agriculture, told the meeting that a total number of 27,991 farmers have enrolled for crop insurance schemes in the district in the year 2016. This number included 13,900 farmers for PMFBY and 14,091 farmers for Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme. Mr. Yeddyurappa said that more than 45,000 farmers had enrolled for crop insurance schemes in the district in 2015. Owing to department officials’ failure to create awareness about the schemes, there has been decline in enrolment this year, he said.
Lapses in assessmentGurumurthy, member, DDCMC, complained of lapses in the assessment of crop loss suffered by the farmers last year for payment of insurance amount. The loss had been assessed by a section of officials of the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, without visiting the spot. As a result, the farmers were paid paltry sums of money as compensation. Disappointed with the negligence of the officials in assessing the loss, the farmers have not evinced interest to enrol for crop insurance scheme this year, he said.
Deputy Commissioner V.P. Ikkeri told the meeting that more than 80,000 farmers have submitted applications seeking title deeds under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, in the district. The work of surveying the land and fixing the boundaries related to 55,000 applications has already been completed. Mr. Yeddyurappa directed the officials not to evict the farmers who had submitted applications for title deeds under the Act, from the forest land they are cultivating.
‘Funds not enough’Mallikarjuna Hakre, president, Sagar Taluk Panchayat, said that an amount of Rs. 10,000 is provided for levelling an acre of agricultural land under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Similarly, other work such as construction of cattle sheds, wells, bunds, vermicompost pits can be undertaken on private agricultural land and homesteads under MGNREGS. The farmers have not evinced interest in taking up these works as the actual expense incurred by them is much more than the amount provided under MGNREGS, he said. Mr. Yeddyurappa said he would apprise the Union government about increasing the amount paid for work undertaken on private agricultural land and homesteads under MGNREGS.
