Hyderabad: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced major relief for farmers after the Centre added two long-pending demands to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Moreover, he said the government acted after repeated requests from cultivators who faced losses not covered earlier.
During his address, he explained that many farmers had suffered damage that did not fall under the insurance scheme. As a result, they often struggled to recover from losses caused by wild animals or long spells of standing water. He stated that the Centre aimed to end that gap through a fresh decision.
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan details new crop insurance benefits
Chouhan said that the first major inclusion was crop damage caused by wild animals. He noted that farmers had raised this demand for many years. Additionally, he said such incidents were rising in several regions, which made the need for cover more urgent. He added that compensation would now be paid when crops were destroyed by wildlife.
The second inclusion involved losses caused by floods, heavy rainfall, or waterlogging. Furthermore, he stressed that water stagnation after excess rain often wiped out entire fields. He stated that farmers who faced such situations would now receive compensation under the updated scheme. He explained that this move aimed to reduce distress and support stable farm incomes.
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says decision helps Telugu states
While speaking about the nationwide impact, he said the change would help cultivators across all regions. He pointed out that farmers in the Telugu states had also faced these issues for years. Moreover, he said the updated plan would give them easier access to compensation during natural or wildlife-related losses. He added that the Centre wanted to ensure that no farmer felt left out of support systems.
Chouhan said the Agriculture Ministry would soon issue detailed guidelines. He further expressed confidence that the revised insurance cover would strengthen trust between farmers and the government. Through his statement, he assured that the Centre would continue to improve farmer welfare policies.