Bonanza on cards for farmers? Govt leaving no stone unturned

The government is going full steam ahead as it readies some big bang measures aimed at improving farmers' conditions and the general state of agriculture.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to government sources, is meeting stakeholders, including officials of the agriculture ministry, in this regard.

"Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi is not looking at farm loan waivers, but other reforms," the sources told ETNow.


ETNow reported that the steps may not include farm loan waivers as being demanded by Congress party chief Rahul Gandhi.

It's also reliably learnt that Prime Minister's Fasal Bima Yojana will be made more effective.

Modi, the sources added, wants a broader ambit of the crop insurance scheme with a wider coverage of calamities such as excessive rains and fires. There seems to be a clear instruction from the top to make sure the benefits reach farmers and not private companies and middlemen.

Insurance firms may also be asked to pay interest to farmers in case of delayed payments.

The urgency is understandable, given the recent electoral defeat of the ruling BJP in key heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

More than 20 private insurers are part of the Prime Minister crop insurance scheme.