Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the Centre is working towards ensuring both income stability and risk protection for farmers, through a series of policy measures ranging from crop diversification to faster insurance payouts.
Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha, Chouhan emphasised that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed farmers’ welfare at the forefront, with a focus on increasing profitability and strengthening safeguards against crop losses.
Push for crop diversification
The minister said the government is encouraging farmers to shift away from tobacco cultivation towards more profitable cash crops. Identified alternatives include hybrid maize, chilli, cotton, soybean, pulses, oilseeds and millets, aimed at ensuring sustainable and higher farm incomes.
Integrated farming for small landholders
Highlighting challenges faced by small and marginal farmers, Chouhan said the government has developed integrated farming models to reduce dependency on a single crop.
“These models combine agriculture with allied activities such as animal husbandry, fisheries, beekeeping and agro-forestry, enabling farmers to generate income throughout the year,” he said.
Record procurement at MSP
The minister underlined that Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations have expanded significantly, with “historic procurement” underway for key crops including wheat, paddy, pulses and oilseeds.
He noted that special arrangements for pulses such as tur, masoor and urad ensure that farmers can sell their entire produce at MSP, providing a major boost to pulse growers.
Faster crop insurance payouts
Referring to reforms in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Chouhan said the government has introduced measures to ensure timely compensation.
Under the revised rules: compensation must be paid within 21 days of yield data availability; delays will attract 12% interest, payable by insurers and state governments; and claims can be made even if crop loss affects a single farmer.
“These changes protect farmers from delays and reduce financial stress after crop damage,” he said.
Monitoring and transparency
The minister stressed that irregularities in schemes will not be tolerated, citing the government’s commitment to transparency.
Complaints received through digital platforms such as the Krishi Rakshak Portal are being closely monitored, with strict action taken in cases of wrongdoing.
He added that Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has enabled thousands of crores in crop insurance claims to be credited directly into farmers’ bank accounts, particularly in states like Rajasthan.
Vision for resilient agriculture
Reiterating the government’s broader vision, Chouhan said the combined measures aim to build a resilient and self-reliant agricultural sector, where farmers are assured of better income as well as protection from risks.
“The goal is to create a system where farmers have both profitability and security,” he said, adding that these initiatives will strengthen the foundation of India’s rural economy.
