Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh on Tuesday praised chief minister Raghubar Das for covering more than 8.5 lakh farmers under the Pradhamantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Singh, who was in Ranchi’s Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) to conduct a review meeting of the state’s agriculture, fisheries and dairy departments, complimented Das for registering a ‘quantum jump’ under the crop insurance scheme launched last year. “The number of farmers brought under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana last year was 5.47 lakhs. Over 8.5 lakh farmers have been covered this year. This is a quantum jump,” Singh told media personnel after the meeting. “The Raghubar Das government in Jharkhand has ignored the burden on the state exchequer to cover crop losses due to natural disasters. This was a much sought relief for farmers,” he added. The review meeting, which lasted for a little over two hours at BAU’s Senate Hall, was attended by scientists, extension officers, researchers from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) along with state agriculture minister Randhir Kumar Singh.The minister observed that Jharkhand has made a ‘rapid progress’ on all fronts in the agriculture sector. “A total of 560 seed villages have been set up throughout Jharkhand which are expected to produce 3.7 lakh seeds for distribution for the sowing of kharif crops.” Singh praised Jharkhand’s efforts in fisheries, too. “The state has also become near self-sufficient in fish production. Over 90% of its needs are being fulfilled internally, thus reducing the dependence on southern states,” Singh added. He stressed that Jharkhand is becoming a model for fish production. Singh added that the government’s decision to construct one lakh dobhas (farm ponds) will assist fish and farm production in future.
2016 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.