This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 355, concerning meetings held with farmer unions in Chandigarh earlier in 2025. Key outcomes include discussions on various topics related to agriculture and farmer welfare.
The government affirms its commitment to setting Minimum Support Prices (MSP) at levels at least 1.5 times the cost of production, a practice in place since 2018-19. The Union Budget for 2025-26 includes a six-year Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses. As part of this mission, the government will procure 100% of Tur, Urad, and Masoor offered by farmers at MSP for four years. A Mission for Cotton Productivity has also been announced.
To address financial support for farmers facing losses from natural disasters, the government offers the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS), initiated in Kharif 2016. Premium subsidies are shared between the Central and State Governments on a 50:50 basis, and 90:10 in North Eastern and other Hilly states (effective Kharif 2020). Participation in the scheme is voluntary for States since inception and for all farmers from Kharif 2020. PMFBY provides comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage throughout the crop cycle, covering both widespread and localized risks, as well as post-harvest losses.
Key Entities Referenced
Chandigarh: The location where meetings with farmer unions were held.
Minimum Support Price MSP: A price floor set by the government to purchase certain crops directly from farmers, to safeguard their interests.
Union Budget for 202526: The annual financial statement of the government, which announced a 6year Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana PMFBY: A Central Sector Scheme yield indexbased providing financial support to farmers at the time of losses due to natural calamities.
Kharif 2016 season: The season from which Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana PMFBY and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme RWBCIS have been introduced in the country
Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme RWBCIS: A weather index based scheme introduced in the country from Kharif 2016 season.
North Eastern States: Region where premium subsidy to farmers is shared by the Central and State Government on 90 : 10 basis.
Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses: A 6 year mission announced in the Union Budget for 2025-26.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 355
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025
MEETING WITH FARMER UNIONS
355. SHRI AMRINDER SINGH RAJA WARRING:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the key outcomes of the meeting held with farmer unions in Chandigarh
earlier this year;
(b) whether the Ministry released any follow-up action plan on MSP guarantees or crop
diversification as discussed;
(c) whether the farmers’ concerns on input costs and procurement of non-paddy crops
have been addressed;
(d) whether new institutional framework been proposed for dialogue with farmers’
groups, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of updates on compensation and crop insurance issues raised in the
meeting?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): Three meetings were held with farmer unions in Chandigarh earlier this year.
Discussions on various topics related to agriculture and farmers welfare were held during
these meetings.
(b) & (c): Government has been fixing Minimum Support Price (MSP), at least one and half
times of the cost of production, for all mandated crops since 2018-19. A 6-year “Mission for
Atmanirbharta in Pulses” has been announced in the Union Budget for 2025-26.Additionally, 100% Tur, Urad and Masoor offered by farmers will be procured at MSP for 4
years. Further, “Mission for Cotton Productivity” has also been announced.
(d) & (e): With a view to provide financial support to farmers at the time of losses due to
natural calamities, a Central Sector Scheme yield index-based Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima
Yojana (PMFBY) and weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance
Scheme (RWBCIS) have been introduced in the country from Kharif 2016 season. It is a
demand driven scheme and financial liability on premium subsidy to farmers is shared by
the Central and State Government on 50 : 50 basis and 90 : 10 in North Eastern States &
other Hilly states, with effect from Kharif 2020 season. The scheme is voluntary for the
States since inception and for all farmers w.e.f. Kharif 2020.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) provides for comprehensive risk
insurance against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest for crops and area notified
by the concerned State Government. The scheme not only safeguards against wide spread
yield loss due to non-preventable natural risks/ & extreme climate calamities viz. flood,
inundation, landslide, drought, heat waves, hailstorm, cyclone, pests/diseases, natural fire
and lightening, storm, typhoon, tempest, hurricane, tornado etc. however also against farm
level yield loss due to localized risks (hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloud burst and
natural fire) and post-harvest losses due to cyclone, cyclonic/unseasonal rain and hailstorm
and prevented sowing.
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