Question : Crop Insurance

(a) whether the Union Government has asked NITI Aayog to consider issues of crop insurance vis-à-vis higher support prices, to protect farmers from losses arising out of crop damage and is so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the NITI Aayog has submitted any recommendations in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the NITI Aayog has discussed the matter with the State Governments and insurance companies; and

(d) if so, the reaction of the State Governments and insurance companies thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) MINISTRY OF PLANNING
AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE
RAO INDERJIT SINGH

(a) NITI Aayog’s Governing Council (GC) headed by Hon’ble Prime Minister in its first meeting held on the 8th February, 2015 discussed the problems and issues of different sectors including agriculture. The GC decided to constitute a Task Force on Agricultural Development to suggest measures for rejuvenating agriculture and recommend strategies for reinvigorating agricultural development in all aspects including higher prices for agricultural produce and distress to farmers due to crop losses in event of natural calamities.

(b) The NITI Aayog’s Task Force on Agricultural Development has coordinated with the State’s task Forces to seek their input on various issues to develop the consolidated report.

(c) & (d) The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & farmers Welfare (DACFW), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India has been implementing multiple crop insurance schemes such as National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS), Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS), Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) and Coconut Insurance Scheme (CIS) under the umbrella of National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP). An integrated comprehensive crop insurance scheme Bhartiya Krishi Bima Yojana (BKBY) has been contemplated by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DACFW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and they are seeking suggestions from different appraising agencies including NITI Aayog and the State Governments as well as insurance companies. The BKBY envisages providing the insurance to crops and farmer and his/her family and assets as a package.