Mangalore, Saturday – The Dakshina Kannada District unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party lodged a formal protest on Saturday, claiming that the crop‑insurance amount allotted to areca‑nut growers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been sharply reduced. The grievance was aired at a press conference held inside the party office, with MLA Harish Poonja leading the discussion.
Poonja asserted that the scheme, originally intended to safeguard farmers’ incomes, now leaves them disillusioned. He blamed the shortfall on the state government’s failure to transfer its share of the premium to the insurer, even though the central government has already fulfilled its portion. According to the MLA, this lapse has turned a once‑reliable safety net into a source of disappointment.
Historical data presented at the event highlighted a steady decline in payouts. In 2013, areca‑nut cultivators received an average insurance cover of Rs 1.28 lakh per hectare. Subsequent years saw the figure fluctuate between Rs 60,000 and Rs 90,000. The 2022‑23 cycle recorded a payment of roughly Rs 70,000, which fell to about Rs 45,000‑Rs 50,000 for the 2024‑25 season. The current financial year, Poonja noted, has witnessed the amount plunge further to an average of Rs 20,000 per hectare.
Joining the MLA were several senior party leaders, including D.K. District President Satish Kumpala, former Mayor Premanand Shetty, and local figures such as Pushpa Medappa, Shobhendra, Yatish Arwar, Umesh Beltangady, Shashidhar Kalmanja, Vasanth Poojary, Rakesh Rai Sullia, Jagannath and others. The assembled cohort called for immediate corrective action from the state administration to restore the intended level of insurance support for the district’s areca‑nut growers.
Image: varthabharati.in
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati DK