Haryana cotton growers have opposed the state government’s move to increase their share of premium under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from Rs 620 per acre to Rs 1,650. This is the result of withdrawal of the 3 per cent subsidy by the government on the premium. Under PMFBY guidelines, a farmer is required to pay 2 per cent of the sum insured in for Kharif crop and 1.5 per cent for Rabi crop as the premium and the balance is shared 50:50 by the state and the Centre.

This year, farmers’ premium share under the government insurance scheme was hiked up to Rs 50 per acre for paddy, Rs 10 per acre for maize, Rs 40 per acre for bajra, Rs 1,030 per acre for cotton, Rs 8 per acre for barley and wheat, Rs 15 per acre each for gram and sunflower and Rs 130 per acre for mustard.

Rajbir Sihag, a farmer from Bhiwani’s Miran, criticized the government move and demanded a reduction in the hiked amount. He says, the move adds to the financial burden of farmers who have invest a lot in cotton production.