Lok Sabha Question No. 293 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: Plan to Aid Farmers Affected by Drought and Cyclone
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Mahesh Sahoo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 293

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 15 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## PLAN TO AID FARMERS AFFECTED BY DROUGHT AND CYCLONE

## 293. SHRI MAHESH SAHOO:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a): whether the Government is working on a systematic and permanent plan to help the farmers who suffer both from drought and cyclone in the State of Odisha every year and if so, the details thereof;
- (b): the details of the loan waiver granted and the number of farmers who have benefited from the measure; and
- (c): whether the Government will consider introduction of crop insurance to help farmers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a): The State Government  is primarily responsible for managing  and  undertaking necessary relief measures in the wake of natural calamities including drought and cyclone. Government of India supplements the efforts of State Governments with financial assistance. In  the  eventuality  of  notified  calamities,  State  Governments  are  empowered  to  undertake necessary  relief  measures  from  State  Disaster  Response  Fund  (SDRF),  which  is  readily available with the State. For calamity of severe nature, additional financial assistance, over and  above  SDRF,  is  considered  from  National  Disaster  Response  Fund  (NDRF),  in accordance with items and norms of assistance, upon receipt of Memorandum from the State Government. Thereafter, Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) is constituted. IMCT visits the State for assessment of the calamity situation and requirement of financial assistance from NDRF. Taking into account the recommendations of the IMCT and the recommendations of the Sub-Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC) thereon, the Government of India approves assistance from NDRF.

(b): Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme (ADWDRS) was announced in the Union Budget 2008-09. Under the ADWDR scheme, all direct agricultural loans disbursed to farmers between 31.3.1997 and 31.3.2007, overdue as on 31.12.2007 and remained unpaid until 29.2.2008, were covered under the scheme. Full debt waiver of the eligible amount was given to 'small and marginal farmers' and one-time settlement rebate of 25% was extended to other farmers' against the payment of balance 75% in not more than three installments.

The  debt  waiver  portion  of  the  ADWDRS,  2008  was  closed  by  its  due  date  i.e. 30.6.2008, while the debt relief portion of the scheme was extended till 31.12.2009 and further upto 30.6.2010. Under the scheme, 3.73 crore farmers of different States were benefitted to the extent of Rs.52,259.86 crore. After the closure of ADWDR, 2008, no other waiver scheme has been implemented by the Union Government.

(c): In order to help farmers, Government has introduced yield based Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance  Scheme  (WBCIS) from  Kharif  2016.  These  schemes  provide  insurance  cover  to farmers  against  suffering  crop  loss/damage  arising  out  of  natural  calamities  and  adverse weather incidence. It also helps to stabilize the income of farmers.    The scheme is optional for  the  States/  Union  Territories.  The  State  Government  of  Odisha  is  implementing  the scheme since its inception.

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