Certainly, below is an article on Bhavantar Yojana.
Bhavantar Yojana: An Initiative to Empower Indian Farmers
Bhavantar Yojana is an initiative by the Indian government to empower farmers and provide them with a fair price for their crops. Launched in 2017, it is a crop insurance scheme that aims to compensate farmers for the loss of income due to fluctuations in market prices.
Under this scheme, farmers are not required to sell their produce in the market. Instead, they can register their crops with the agricultural department and choose to sell it later. The government will pay the difference between the minimum support price (MSP) and the market price to the farmers. In other words, the scheme aims to cover the gap between the market price and the MSP.
For example, if the MSP for wheat is Rs 1,500 per quintal and the market price is Rs 1,200 per quintal, the government will pay Rs 300 per quintal to the farmer. Thus, the farmer gets the MSP, and the government bears the losses of the difference between the MSP and the market price.
Bhavantar Yojana is a major step towards empowering small and marginal farmers who are often exploited by middlemen and traders in the market. The initiative also encourages farmers to adopt modern technologies, agricultural best practices, and crop diversification.
The scheme aims to benefit farmers of different states and crops, including mustard, wheat, gram, soybean, and paddy. The government has allocated a budget of around Rs 7,000 crore for the scheme in 2021-2022. The scheme is expected to benefit around 50 lakh farmers across the country.
The Bhavantar Yojana has several advantages. Firstly, it will provide a predictable income to farmers, which will enhance their purchasing power and improve their standard of living. Secondly, it will encourage them to invest in modern farming technologies and techniques. Thirdly, it will reduce the dependence of farmers on middlemen and traders for selling their crops. Finally, it will reduce the chances of distress sale of crops by farmers.
However, the scheme also has some challenges. Some critics argue that the scheme will lead to an increase in MSP, which will put pressure on the government’s finances. Others argue that the scheme may lead to corruption and unfair practices in the selection of beneficiaries.
In conclusion, Bhavantar Yojana is a positive step towards empowering farmers and providing them with a fair price for their crops. The scheme aims to protect farmers from price volatility and to enhance their purchasing power. However, the scheme needs to be carefully monitored and evaluated to ensure its effectiveness and fairness.