GUWAHATI, Aug 31 - Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers� Welfare, Parshottam Rupala today said that the time limit for the crop insurance scheme � Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) � for the farmers of Assam would be extended in view of the prolonged sali season in the State, which continues till the first week of September.
Rupala, who was addressing a review meeting of various agricultural schemes attended by Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora and senior officials, assured that the last date for crop insurance, which is July 31, would be extended to August 31.
�We have been intimated of the peculiar situation in the State by the Assam Agriculture Minister. The Union Agriculture Ministry will take necessary action by modifying the PMBFY guidelines to extend the last date for kharif crop insurance,� he said.
On the issue of slippage of target for issuance of soil health cards (SHCs), the Union Minister was told that the collection of soil samples in Assam was limited to four-five months only due to the submergence of the soil for a major part of the year. �We explained the situation to the minister. On the overall implementation of different Centrally-sponsored and State agriculture projects and schemes, the Minister expressed satisfaction,� sources in the Agriculture Department said.
