The Congress on Tuesday accused the Gujarat government of denying farmers the benefits of the Centre’s flagship crop insurance scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), for the past several years.
Addressing a press conference, Congress leader, AICC National Spokesperson and former Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil alleged that Gujarat is the only state in the country that has not implemented the PMFBY since 2019-20. He claimed that this has left farmers without adequate financial protection against crop losses caused by natural calamities.
Gohil Cites Union Agriculture Minister’s Letters
To support his claims, Gohil released copies of letters written by the Union Agriculture Minister to both him and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
According to Gohil, the letters confirm that despite repeated requests from the Centre, the Gujarat government has not adopted the PMFBY since the 2019-20 season.
He said the correspondence shows that the Union government has consistently encouraged Gujarat to implement the scheme, as farmers in almost every other state are already benefiting from it.
Issue Raised in Rajya Sabha
Gohil said he had raised the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha on December 5, 2025, seeking compensation for farmers who suffered heavy crop losses due to unseasonal and excessive rainfall in Gujarat last year.
He claimed that in its written response, the Centre acknowledged that while farmers across the country are receiving benefits under the PMFBY, Gujarat has not implemented the scheme despite repeated appeals from the Union government.
Centre Urged Gujarat to Adopt PMFBY
According to Gohil, the Union Agriculture Minister, in a letter dated November 25, 2025, urged Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to introduce the crop insurance scheme in Gujarat.
He said the minister pointed out that nearly all states have adopted PMFBY and that the scheme offers significant financial protection to farmers affected by unseasonal rainfall, floods, natural disasters and other weather-related crop losses.
Congress Says Farmers Lost Crores Without Insurance Cover
The Congress leader alleged that if Gujarat had implemented the PMFBY, farmers who suffered crop losses worth crores of rupees last year would have received full insurance compensation.
Instead, he claimed, the state government provided only limited financial assistance, which was insufficient even to cover the cost of seeds, cultivation and other farming expenses.
He further said the Union minister’s letter highlighted that the scheme provides insurance coverage for all crops and also extends financial assistance for losses suffered by vegetable growers and horticulture plantations.
BJP Government Accused of Weakening Farmers Economically
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP-led Gujarat government, Gohil alleged that refusing to implement the crop insurance scheme amounts to a deliberate attempt to weaken the financial condition of farmers.
He described the state’s decision not to adopt PMFBY as a “conspiracy to economically ruin farmers” by denying them the protection available to farmers in the rest of the country.
Congress Demands Explanation and Full Compensation
The Congress demanded that the Gujarat government explain why it has kept the state’s farmers out of the Central crop insurance scheme despite repeated requests from the Union government.
The party also urged the state government to apologise to farmers and provide full compensation for crop losses suffered last year instead of the limited relief that was distributed.
Call for Immediate Implementation Amid Delayed Monsoon
With Gujarat witnessing delayed rainfall this year and concerns over the possible impact of El Niño on agriculture, the Congress has renewed its demand for the immediate implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
The party said timely implementation of the scheme would help safeguard farmers against potential crop losses caused by erratic weather conditions.
It also questioned why Gujarat’s farmers have been denied the benefits of the PMFBY since 2019-20 while farmers in every other state have continued to receive assistance under the Central crop insurance programme, despite the Union Agriculture Minister reportedly acknowledging the scheme’s benefits and urging its adoption.
Also Read: Groom Dragged Off Mare As Wedding Procession Sparks OBC Caste Clash https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-groom-dragged-off-mare-wedding-procession-assault/
