- Meeting held on November 3, 2025, at Krishi Bhawan in Delhi with senior officials and insurance executives.
- Farmers from Akola district in Maharashtra received claims as low as Rs 5 or Rs 21.
- In Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh, one farmer got Rs 1 despite zero loss recorded.
- Another Madhya Pradesh farmer had 0.004806 percent loss assessed but still received Rs 1 claim.
- States delaying subsidy shares face 12 percent interest charge from the Centre.
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana covers crop protection against natural calamities.
- Orders issued for on-field probes into claims under Rs 5.
- Virtual connections made with Maharashtra Agriculture Commissioner and Sehore District Collector.
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has stepped in firmly to sort out problems bothering farmers over payments from the crop insurance program. In a detailed session at the capital, he heard out worries straight from growers in Maharashtra through an online link and pushed officials for clear solutions.
The gathering brought together top officers from the agriculture department and leaders from various insurance firms. Chouhan made it plain that such small sums as Rs 1, Rs 3, or Rs 5 handed to farmers after crop damage cannot stand, calling it an unfair treatment of those who rely on the scheme. He has called for a full check into these cases to make sure growers get what they deserve without hold-ups.
Direct Grievances from the Ground
Right after landing in Delhi on a Monday flight, Chouhan headed to the ministry and kicked off talks focused on the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. This initiative, started under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, aims to shield farmers’ harvests from weather-related hits. Yet, reports of odd low payouts have sparked doubts and drawn unwanted flak.
He brought up specific cases from his own area in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, naming growers who insured their fields but ended up with next to nothing. One had no damage noted but got just Rs 1. In another instance, a tiny fraction of loss led to the same amount. Chouhan questioned the whole way losses get measured, urging a switch to better tools for fair checks.
From Maharashtra’s Akola region, farmers joined via video to explain getting Rs 5 or Rs 21 after filing for multiple plots. Officials said early bits were settled, with balances added later, but Chouhan saw this as a mix-up that confuses people and harms trust in the system. He wants all payments cleared at once to cut down on mix-ups.
Steps for Fixes and Better Oversight
To get to the bottom of it, Chouhan tasked the scheme’s head to lead ground-level reviews in spots with weird low claims. This includes chats with district heads and affected farmers to dig out the truth. He also wants a close look at tech like remote sensing used for loss checks, plus updates to rules that let tiny covers slip through.
Insurance teams must now show up at survey sites to keep things straight, ensuring no shortcuts cheat growers. On hold-ups from state sides not pitching in their subsidy parts on time, he told ministry staff to link up with all regions for fast releases. Any lag will draw that 12 percent extra cost, put in place to back farmers fully. Chouhan stressed that central efforts should not take the blame for local slips.
The session wrapped with calls for tech links to keep everything open, so farmers stay in the loop and dodgy dealings get nipped early. Inputs came from local leaders in Sehore and Maharashtra agriculture experts, aiming to sharpen the program for real help.
This push shows the government’s resolve to make crop cover work as a solid support for rural livelihoods, fixing glitches so it truly guards against nature’s blows.