Farmers Have Lost Faith in Modi Government: 73 Lakh Quit Crop Insurance Scheme: Randhawa

Chandigarh, August 24, 2026: Senior Congress leader, Member of Parliament and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa accused the Modi government at the Centre of subjecting farmers to a double injustice, saying that on the one hand, 7.3 million (29.6%) farmers have opted out of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) over the past two years, while on the other, cotton cultivation—a defining crop of northern India—has shrunk by as much as 23% in a single year. He said both figures demonstrate that the Centre’s agricultural policies have completely failed to win the confidence of farmers.
He said that when millions of farmers are leaving the crop insurance scheme and farmers growing the “white gold” are being forced to abandon cotton cultivation, the Central government must answer why its so-called farmer-friendly policies are failing to deliver benefits to farmers.
Randhawa said the biggest flaw in the crop insurance scheme is that the loss occurs on an individual farmer’s field, but compensation is determined on the basis of the average yield of the entire area. If a farmer’s crop is completely destroyed by hailstorm, floods or pest attacks, but satellite surveys record relatively low average damage across the area, the farmer does not receive compensation corresponding to the actual loss suffered. This, he said, is one of the reasons why millions of farmers have lost faith in the scheme.
He said farmers’ grievances are not limited to inadequate claims. In many cases, surveys were not conducted on time, re-surveys were not carried out, and the lengthy compensation process left farmers frustrated. Premiums are collected on time, but when it comes to providing relief, farmers are caught up in cumbersome paperwork and procedures. They are made to run from pillar to post until they eventually give up hope of receiving compensation.
Randhawa said the situation concerning cotton cultivation is even more alarming. In Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, cotton acreage declined by around 6.77 lakh acres within a year, with Punjab suffering the biggest setback. Once known as “white gold,” cotton is increasingly becoming a crop of losses and uncertainty for farmers. He said persistent pest attacks, rising input costs, declining yields and market volatility have forced farmers to abandon cotton cultivation.
Randhawa demanded that the Central government eliminate the system of assessing losses on the basis of average yield under the crop insurance scheme and instead assess actual losses at the individual field level. He also demanded full compensation for 100% crop loss, effective government procurement and a robust market mechanism for cotton growers, along with a concrete policy to ensure farmers’ incomes and crop security.