Question : Compensation to Farmers

(a) whether in the absence of sufficient number of irrigation projects in various parts of the country, a large part of cultivable land has been left without sowing (Rabi Season), especially in Bundelkhand area in Uttar Pradesh as this area is totally dependent upon rains;

(b) if so, whether there is any proposal to start a centrally sponsored irrigation project to reduce the dependency of these areas on the rains;

(c) if so, the details thereof, area, State and project-wise;

(d) whether the Government proposes to give any compensation to the farmers who were unable to do any sowing in this Rabi Season; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 40 DUE FOR REPLY ON 5TH FEBRUARY, 2019.

(a) to (c): Water Resources Projects are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priority.
As per the Report of the “Working Group on Major & Medium Irrigation and Command Area Development for the XII Five Year Plan”, 326 projects were indicated as ongoing at the end of XI Plan out of which 250 projects were started before 2008. Out of above mentioned 250 projects, 104 projects were included under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for Central Assistance (CA). Out of these 104 projects, 23 projects have been reported to be completed, 19 projects have been reported by the States to be almost complete/closed/taken out of purview of AIBP, etc., one project namely Polavaram Project has been declared as National Project as per Andhra Pradesh reorganization Act.The balance 61 projects along with other 38 projects have been prioritized during 2016-17 under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)-AIBP for completion along with their Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) works in phases by December, 2019, in consultation with States.Out of these 99 priority projects, Arjunsahayak project is benefitting Mahoba, Hamirpur and Banda districts in Bundelkhand area of Uttar Pradesh.
(d) & (e): The Government is implementing flagship schemes namely Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) from April, 2016 with a view to provide comprehensive crop insurance cover against non-preventable natural risks at an affordable rate to farmers. Under the PMFBY scheme, comprehensive risk insurance from pre-sowing to post-harvest is provided to cover yield loss to notified crops in notified areas, due to non-preventable natural risks. On the
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other hand, WBCIS provide insurance protection/claims to the farmers against defined adverse weather incidence, such as deficit and excess rainfall, high or low temperature, humidity etc. which are deemed to impact adversely the crop production.
In addition to comprehensive coverage, if insured area is prevented from sowing/planting due to deficit rainfall or adverse seasonal conditions, is also covered under the scheme subject to issuance of notification by the concerned States.
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