AP farmers’ body seeks extension of crop insurance deadline

The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) urged the state government to extend the deadline for payment of farmers’ share of premium under the weather-based crop insurance scheme for cotton, groundnut and tomato crops from July 15 to July 31. It also demanded the resumption of free crop insurance for all crops during the 2rab202 khar-27 season.

In a statement to the Agriculture Commissioner, the organization said the deadline for payment of insurance premiums under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is July 31, while the last date under the weather-based crop insurance scheme for cotton, groundnut and tomato is July 15, causing hardship to farmers.

The association said that these crops are grown extensively in Rayalaseema districts including Kurnool, Anantapur, Sri Sathya Sai, Annamayya and Chittoor and requested that the term be aligned with PMFBY.

It stated that around four lakh acres of cotton was grown in Kurnool district alone and claimed that the farmers’ premium contribution of ₹2,000 per acre was unaffordable, especially for drought-affected farmers. The organization urged the government to reduce the premium to a maximum of ₹500 per acre.

The association has also sought a similar extension for groundnut and tomato growers, saying delayed rainfall has affected cultivation in several districts.

She further appealed to the government to introduce free crop insurance for all crops during the current farming year, saying that such a scheme introduced by the previous government had benefited farmers.

The representation was presented by Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham President V. Krishnaiah and State Secretary K. Prabhakar Reddy.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 23:12 IST