Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards bolstering agricultural support mechanisms, the 62nd State Level Co-ordination Committee on Crop Insurance (SLCCCI) convened today under the guidance of Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena at the Second Floor Conference Hall of Lok Seva Bhawan. The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Jena, the highest State level authority for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) or Crop Insurance, aimed at reviewing the successful execution of the crop insurance scheme in Odisha.
The gathering included key stakeholders such as the Principal Secretary to the Government, Agriculture & FE Department, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government, Cooperation Department, Director of Agriculture and Food Production, Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Odisha), Director of Horticulture, Director of Economics and Statistics, along with representatives from OSCB, ORSAC, IMD, SLBC, and various insurance companies.
The Director of Agriculture presented a comprehensive overview of the agenda points, highlighting the growth in coverage under the crop insurance scheme during Kharif 2023 and Rabi 2023-24. Chief Secretary Jena commended the collaborative efforts of the Cooperation and Agriculture Departments, emphasizing the importance of early settlement of claims for farmers by insurance companies.
Of note is the state government’s decision to provide free premium enrollment under the scheme for farmers with land up to 2 hectares from Kharif-2023, a move supported by state resources. The committee lauded the integration of technology in crop yield estimation and crop cutting experiments (CCEs), which has substantially reduced disputes raised by insurance companies against the CCEs.
During the meeting, representatives from insurance companies expressed their satisfaction with the support provided by district administrations and departments, facilitating the seamless implementation of the scheme. The committee also greenlit a pilot study on four other proposed models under the scheme and approved the issuance of notifications by the Cooperation Department in the upcoming Kharif Season. The meeting reflected the state’s commitment to supporting farmers and fostering a resilient agricultural ecosystem through effective crop insurance measures.
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