UP has a population of approximately 24 crore, the highest in any Indian state. Its population is exceeded by only four countries in the world and is more than that of many European countries combined.
The recent tweaks to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, including making it 100% voluntary and capping premiums at 30%, are going to be a game-changer.
The work of state agriculture department staff is today largely reduced to input distribution and dishing out small subsidy sums under a plethora of fragmented schemes to farmers, as opposed to extension.
Bundelkhand being one of India’s main pulses growing belts, the impact of the drought there was also felt through the sharp spike in prices of legumes.
This is an Open Sesame moment of sorts for Bundelkhand. The returns may not be very lucrative this year, but the crop holds tremendous hope for the future.
