Anantapur: Farmers happy with free crop insurance scheme

Anantapur: Tuesday was a happy day for 4.51 lakh farmers in the district when at the click of a mouse by the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy every farmer received amounts ranging from Rs 6,000 to Rs 50,000 as compensation under the free crop insurance scheme. These compensation amounts pertained to 2019 kharif season. About 4.51 lakh farmers got Rs 362.26 crore, according to district collector Gandham Chandrudu.

Woman farmer Venkatalakshmi of Narasanayakuni village in Raptadu mandal in the district, an owner of 5 acres plus crop land raised groundnut crop with a bank loan of Rs 1 lakh but due to unfavorable climate her crop was damaged. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy true to his promise has credited into her account Rs 7,200 on Tuesday. An elated Venkatlakshmi said that although her groundnut crop was damaged during the TDP rule, she was paid the compensation and this kind of gesture is unprecedented, she exclaimed.

A festive spirit prevailed among farmers even as their accounts have been credited with the unexpected bonanza. The farmers feel that the chief minister by taking several pro-farmer initiatives is proving to be farmer-friendly.

Farmer Pakirappa of Dharmavaram mandal says that he received a compensation of Rs 6,900 for the groundnut crop damage he suffered in 2019. He said that no chief minister responded so speedily to the farmers sufferings like our Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Farmer Shiva of Anantapur rural panchayath and Raghuvothammarao of Bukkarayasamudram mandal echoes similar responses to the chief minister's economic bonanza to farmers. Raghuvothamma Rao says that he received Rs 50,000 compensation for his five acres of groundnut crop. District Collector Gandham Chandrudu told The Hans India that 4.51 lakh farmers benefitted from the crop insurance. The government paid the insurance premium on behalf of all the farmers as a result the farmers directly benefited from the scheme.