The representatives of empanelled insurance agencies as well as scientists and officers of the concerned departments participated in the meeting

Administrative Secretary APD, Manzoor Ahmad Lone and Joint Secretary, Credits, CEO, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), Ashish Kumar Bhutani convened an Interactive and Pre-bid meeting regarding Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) in New Delhi.

The representatives of empanelled insurance agencies, Scientists from Indian Meteorological Department, Officers of Agriculture, Horticulture Departments and SKUAST, J&K, UT participated in the meeting.

The Secretary APD said that the Government of J&K is committed to provide all necessary logistic support to the empanelled insurance companies for the successful implementation of the crop insurance schemes so that the farmers of J&K UT are benefited who otherwise suffer losses due to inclement weather conditions during crop cycle.

Joint Secretary DAC&FW asked the implementing agencies to formulate a strategy so that they can be the part of bidding process for the notified crops in J&K UT and requested all empanelled insurance agencies to be in direct touch with Mission Director PMFBY and RWBCIS regarding any issue which may be an impediment in submission of bids for any notified crops.

Director Agriculture Kashmir, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi who is also Mission Director PMFBY and RWBCIS informed the meeting that bids were re-invited on 19th December for implementation of the schemes in J&K for three years from Kharif 2020 to Rabi 2022-23 as only one insurance companies participated in the bidding process.

Director IMD J&K Sonam Lotus, informed the meeting that the Doppler Weather Radar has already been installed which will enable insurance companies to have access to accurate and authenticated weather data.

During the meeting some key decisions were taken with regard to contract period extension in cut-off date for submission of bids.

Director Indian Metrological Department was directed to submit a proposal for installation of automatic weather stations at the block level along with their catchment areas to the Government of J&K and to the Department of Agriculture Cooperatives and Farmers Welfare, Government of India for back up weather data. IMD will continue to be the proxy weather data provider as mandated under PMFBY and RWBCIS guidelines.

It was also decided in the meeting that the agriculture production department will work out the possibility of outsourcing the installation of AWS for better and accurate assessment of weather parameters responsible for the losses at block level so that the interest of farming community is taken care off.

(Courtesy: Brighter Kashmir)