Amaravati, Nov 4 (NationPress) Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has called for the TDP-led coalition government to ensure crop insurance for every farmer.

He accused the coalition government of pursuing anti-farmer policies and asserted that a robust crop insurance scheme would be essential for farmers facing losses from natural disasters.

On Tuesday, YS Jagan visited regions impacted by the recent Montha cyclone in Krishna district, engaging with farmers directly.

He reported that the cyclone inflicted damage on crops across over 15 lakh acres within the state, with paddy crops on 11 lakh acres experiencing significant destruction.

During a media briefing, the YSRCP leader claimed that crop assessment was inadequately conducted to avoid compensation responsibilities. He noted that the enumeration process was rushed, with stipulations that would prevent paddy procurement for those claiming insurance.

He alleged that the district Collector instructed officials to complete the enumeration within one day, and farmers across all 25 districts echoed concerns that no enumeration was performed and no officials visited the fields. While paddy farmers suffered the greatest losses, crops like cotton, banana, and maize were also destroyed by the Montha cyclone.

YS Jagan criticized Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for eliminating crop insurance, placing the blame on him for the hardships faced by farmers. He urged the government to settle the Rs 600 crore dues and to begin covering premiums for the upcoming Rabi season.

He highlighted that during the coalition government's 18-month tenure, the state faced 16 disasters, ranging from cyclones to heavy rainfall and drought, claiming that the government shows no empathy for farmers.

“While farmers struggle, Chandrababu conducts aerial surveys and then flies to London, while his son attends a cricket match in Mumbai, leaving farmers abandoned,” he remarked.

The former Chief Minister also stated that Chandrababu Naidu failed to deliver the promised input subsidy of Rs 20,000 for two years, providing only Rs 5,000.

“During our administration, we promptly disbursed input subsidies, and crop insurance was handled efficiently, alongside the Rs 3,000 crore Price Stabilisation Fund that guaranteed farmers received a Minimum Support Price (MSP) consistently. We allocated Rs 78,000 crore during our tenure,” he explained.

Under the current coalition government, only 19 lakh farmers have enrolled in the crop insurance program, primarily due to mandatory bank loans, leaving many farmers at a disadvantage.

“In contrast, during our governance, we covered 85 lakh farmers under the insurance scheme. We demand that the government fulfill its obligation to pay crop insurance to all farmers, as it has failed to meet premium payments,” he concluded.