₹261.43 cr. compensation credited to accounts of flood-hit farmers in Bidar

Eshwar B. Khandre, Minister of Forests, Ecology and Environment and Bidar District in-charge, said on Sunday, December 22, 2025, that a loan of ₹ 261.43 crore has been provided to farmers affected by floods during the monsoon season in Bidar district.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Khandre said compensation was paid as per NDRF/SDRF norms: ₹8,500 per hectare for rain-fed crops, ₹17,000 for irrigated crops and ₹22,500 for perennial crops. Accordingly, ₹127.16 crore loan was given to 1,76,382 farmers.

In addition, the State government has announced additional assistance of ₹ 8,500 per hectare, limited to two hectares. This amounted to ₹134.27 crore and was credited to 1,86,426 farmers. A total of ₹261.43 crore compensation was given to 1,86,426 farmers. Meanwhile, he said, compensation is expected to be paid to 8,615 farmers due to technical reasons.

Major kharif crops including soyabean, red gram, black gram, green gram and cotton were planted in 4,32,825 hectares of land in the district. Heavy rainfall and the release of water from the Manjra river in Maharashtra caused floods, damaging crops over 1,67,202.78 hectares and causing an estimated loss of ₹143.60 crore. Joint surveys were conducted by the Revenue, Agriculture and Horticulture directorates and the details were uploaded to the pricing software.

2,04,235 crop insurance quotes were recorded under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in kharif season 2025-26. Of these, 30,712 red gram farmers insured 41,648 hectares of crops. Under the Mid-Season Crunch provision, compensation amounting to ₹36.74 crore was transferred against 78,274 bids.

The Minister also added that insurance claims totaling ₹41.52 crore will be paid by January to 88,886 farmers who reported crop loss due to local natural calamities.

7,752 insurance quotes have been recorded so far for the Rabi season. He said the last date for insuring crops like chickpeas, wheat and jowar is December 31.

Mr. Khandre demanded the Union Government to publish a white paper on crop insurance coverage, premiums paid by farmers and profits earned by private insurance companies in the last nine years.

Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Girish Badole and Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti were present.