Pune: Despite being declared a severe drought-affected taluka, approximately 40,000 to 45,000 farmers in Purandar are still awaiting their crop insurance benefits for both Kharif and Rabi seasons.

The farmers had insured various crops and orchards, but have not received the promised compensation yet. They are urging the government to expedite the disbursement of the insurance amounts through the concerned insurance companies.

The government offers crop insurance to farmers at a nominal rate of one rupee, paying the premiums worth crores to the insurance companies.

However, it appears that these companies are using various criteria to deny benefits and compensation to the farmers, leaving them without the expected aid.

This issue has arisen even though Purandar taluka is officially recognized as drought-affected, which should guarantee insurance benefits to all farmers.

In the Kharif season, around 22,768 farmers insured crops like rice, bajra, groundnut, and onion. Although insurance was granted for rice, bajra, and groundnut, only a few villages received compensation for onions, leaving many farmers without it.

In the Rabi season, around 23,013 farmers insured crops such as irrigated jowar, rainfed jowar, onion, chickpea, and wheat. However, a delay and inaccurate reports from Skymet, a private agency used by the Mahavitaran for weather information, have resulted in farmers being deprived of their rightful compensation.

Local farmers like Navnath Gaikwad, Ankush Kamthe, and Lahu Kamthe allege that these erroneous reports are responsible for the delay in receiving benefits.

Umesh Jadhav, the Purandar taluka representative of HDFC Ergo, the insurance company responsible for last year's crop insurance, confirmed the farmers' complaints about the delayed Rabi season compensation. He assured that discussions at higher levels are ongoing to resolve the issue.

According to the Mahavitaran’s rainfall measuring instruments, farmers who insured their custard apple and guava orchards received benefits, but pomegranate growers did not, as the weather trigger for compensation was not met.

Key Points:

• Insurance enrollment deadline is July 31.

• Farmers are confused about insuring their crops due to the delayed crop inspection for the Kharif season.

• Farmers demand the removal of stringent conditions imposed by the insurance companies and immediate disbursement of benefits.

• They warn of intense protests, including attacking the insurance company's office, if their demands are not met.