Lok Sabha Question No. 152 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Compensation for Crop Damage
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Uday Pratap Singh

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a) to (c):        The Government has taken several steps to deal with situations arising due to natural  calamities  including  current  pandemic  Covid-19.  In  order  to  make  adequate  fund available to the State Governments during COVID-19 pandemic, as a special dispensation, the 1 st instalment of Rs. 11092.00  crore  as Central Share  of State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) for the financial year 2020-21 was released to all the States on 03.04.2020 in advance. Moreover, as on 31.12.2020, central share amounting to Rs.19036.425 crores has been released from SDRMF by the Central Government. Further, an  amount  of  Rs.4406.81  crore  has  been  released  to  10  States  as  additional  financial assistance from NDRF for providing relief to the affected people.

The State Governments are competent to provide relief to the farmers affected due to  12  natural  calamities  from  State  Disaster  Risk  Management  Fund  (SDRMF)  already provided at  their  disposal  in  terms  of  Government  of  India's  items  and  norms.  Further,  in case of calamity of severe in nature and beyond the coping capacity of SDRMF, additional financial assistance is granted to the State Government concerned from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to provide relief to the affected people including farmers.

O.I.H.

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.152

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  2 ND  FEBRUARY, 2021

## COMPENSATION FOR CROP DAMAGE

152.   SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

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

- (a) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to compensate farmers for the damage of their crops during lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 global pandemic;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

The State Governments are also competent to utilize Chief Ministers Distress relief Fund to provide immediate relief to the people including farmers in distress due to Natural calamities.

Besides,  Department  of  Agriculture  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  ensures comprehensive risk cover for crops of farmers against all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest stage under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

In  order  to  ensure  timely  and  smooth  functioning  of  agriculture  and  allied sector activities during the lockdown period due to pandemic Covid-19, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had issued comprehensive guidelines vide their letter No. 403/2020-DM-1(A) dated 15.04.2020 on the measures to be taken for containment of Covid-19. Besides, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) had issued the Standard Operations  Procedures  (SOPs)  dated  18.04.2020  for  farmers  for  their  safety  and  keeping social distancing while undertaking farm related activities.

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