New Delhi: Claims of over Rs 7700 Cr have been paid to over 90 lakh farmers in the Kharif season of 2016 and Rabi season of 2016-17, the Prime Minister was informed on Monday at a high-level meeting to review the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Officials also told PM Narendra Modi that latest technology including smartphones, remote sensing, satellite data and drones are being used for speedy data collection with regard to crop insurance claims. Senior officials from Ministry of Agriculture, NITI Aayog and PMO were present during the meeting, as per a PMO statement.
The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of another key scheme related to the agriculture sector - Soil Health Cards. He was informed that 16 States/UTs have completed the first cycle of Soil Health Cards distribution, and the remaining States are likely to complete the same within weeks.
Reviewing the progress, the Prime Minister said that appropriate checks should be undertaken for variation, both within a sampling grid, and across different soil testing labs, as per a PMO statement. This would help ensure quality in the reports, he added.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that soil health cards should be printed in the local dialect of the area, so that the farmers are able to read and understand them easily.
Encouraging the rapid adoption of latest technology, the Prime Minister said that soil testing should eventually be possible through hand-held devices. He urged officials to explore the possibility of involving start-ups and entrepreneurs in this exercise.
Officials also told PM Narendra Modi that latest technology including smartphones, remote sensing, satellite data and drones are being used for speedy data collection with regard to crop insurance claims. Senior officials from Ministry of Agriculture, NITI Aayog and PMO were present during the meeting, as per a PMO statement.
The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of another key scheme related to the agriculture sector - Soil Health Cards. He was informed that 16 States/UTs have completed the first cycle of Soil Health Cards distribution, and the remaining States are likely to complete the same within weeks.
Reviewing the progress, the Prime Minister said that appropriate checks should be undertaken for variation, both within a sampling grid, and across different soil testing labs, as per a PMO statement. This would help ensure quality in the reports, he added.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that soil health cards should be printed in the local dialect of the area, so that the farmers are able to read and understand them easily.
Encouraging the rapid adoption of latest technology, the Prime Minister said that soil testing should eventually be possible through hand-held devices. He urged officials to explore the possibility of involving start-ups and entrepreneurs in this exercise.