Matribhumi Samachar English
Union Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated in the Lok Sabha today that the Central Government, under PM Narendra Modi, has successfully provided a “strong security shield” to the nation’s annadatta (food providers). Addressing the House, he asserted that through historic interventions and record procurement, farmers’ incomes have doubled, with some cases even seeing a three-to-fourfold increase.
The ‘Security Shield’ for Farmers
The Minister detailed five pillars that have transformed the agricultural landscape:
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Record MSP Procurement: Moving beyond wheat and paddy, the government now actively procures pulses, oilseeds, and even perishable fruits and vegetables.
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PM-AASHA Scheme: This initiative provides a safety net for crops whose market prices fall below the MSP through direct purchases and price difference payments.
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Revolutionary Crop Insurance: Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), farmers have paid ₹36,055 crore in premiums but received a staggering ₹1,92,477 crore in claims.
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Digital Relief (Farmer ID): Citing Maharashtra as an example, the Minister noted that ₹14,000 crore was transferred directly to farmers’ accounts within just five days using digital IDs.
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Market Intervention: For perishables like grapes and tomatoes, the government is now bearing transportation costs to help farmers reach distant markets with better prices.
Production on the Rise
The Minister informed the House that agricultural production has surged by nearly 44% in recent years. He emphasized that the government is no longer just “announcing” prices but ensuring they are realized on the ground, even implementing a 12% interest penalty on insurance companies for delayed claim payments beyond 21 days.
