Gujarat ministers ask GoI to reconsider UPA’s National Crop Insurance Programme

New Delhi, 2 June, 2014

Gujarat Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Transport Shri Nitinbhai Patel and Minister for Agriculture, Cooperation and Animal Husbandry Shri Babubhai Bokhiriya met Union Minister for Agriculture Shri Radha Mohan Singh here.

The Gujarat ministers also had courtesy meetings with Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and Union Transport Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari.

Shri Patel and Shri Bokhiriya met Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and MoS (Agriculture) Dr Sanjeev Balyan to represent state government’s views regarding UPA Government’s National Crop Insurance Programme meant for providing crop insurance coverage to the farmers. In particular, Ministers from Gujarat requested GoI to reconsider NCIP and in the meanwhile extend the previous scheme, i.e., National Agriculture Insurance Scheme for one year.

Various issues relating to the above-mentioned crop insurance scheme having adverse impact on the farmers were discussed in detail. This meeting was also attended by Secretary Agriculture & Cooperation, Shri Ashish Bahuguna and other officials of GoI.

Shri Babubhai Bokhiriya requested the Central Government to consider launching schemes regarding setting up of sanctuaries for local cow breeds, embryo centres and importing of technology relating to semen sexing.

The Gujarat minister also represented the GOI to provide assistance for setting up of agriculture and veterinary colleges in districts of the state so that the graduate students can take up production of high quality seeds and also for providing animal health services for better milk production.

In addition, issue relating to setting up of a central agricultural university was also brought up in the discussion. Recently, seven new districts have been created in Gujarat. Shri Bokhiriya requested for setting up of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in these districts at the earliest.