A. We have revised the norms for providing relief to farmers and extended record amount of financial assistance to states in the past two years. Relief is now being given in case of 33 per cent damage to the crop as against the earlier norm of 50 per cent damage or more. The compensation amount under various heads has also been increased by 50 per cent. It was a historical decision, taken last year at the behest of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides, the Centre had approved nearly Rs 9,017 crore as relief to the states affected by drought and hailstrom as against their demand of Rs 42,021 crore in 2014-15 and approved Rs 13,497 crore during 2015-16 crop year as against the demand of Rs 41,722 crore. In contrast, the UPA government had merely approved a relief of Rs 12,516 crore as against the demand of Rs 92,043 crore during four years from 2010-14.

A. Under the Constitution, agriculture is the state subject and it is the states responsibility to disburse the relief amount to affected farmers. We have, however, been in constant touch with district-level officers through dialogue, pushing them not only to disburse the amount to farmers quickly but also to implement the various schemes — Soil Health Cards, Prime Minister Agriculture Irrigation Plan and National Gokul Mission among others — at local level. Many states have been implementing all these schemes quite sincerely. But, few others have not been that successful. It all depends on states' sensitivity towards farmers.

A. If you travel from Delhi to Kolkata by train and look outside, you would easily find out that the states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal) on the way have not implemented many of the central schemes that successfully as compared to others.

A. That's the reason why we have been promoting use of technology and drone-based survey to map the affected areas and identify the real affected farmers. The centre is also assisting the states to arm the local agriculture officers with smart phones and other scientific tools to make the farmers aware of all the central schemes and their rights over financial assistance. The direct benefit transfer (DBT), launched by us, will also ensure that the farmers can get quick relief.

A. Many farmers took the extreme steps as they had to depend on loans from moneylenders. In case of crop failure, they lost everything. We don't want farmers to trap in such a situation and therefore out government has launched the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme. This is the biggest ever financial support by the central government in crop insurance. Farmers will have to pay lowest ever premium. It will provide them full financial security in case of crop failure. The scheme, which is to be implemented from the Kharif (summer crop) season this year, will cover and disburse relief to even those farmers who are unable to sow\transplant due to bad weather. Mobile and satellite technology will be used for the first time for quick and correct assessment of loss so that farmers can get their claims without any delay.

A. It's up to the environment ministry's expert committee to take a call. If the committee clears any such crop for commercial release, taking all safety aspects in mind, the agriculture ministry will merely assist farmers to adopt it for cultivation. We have, in fact, taken measures through price control to protect the interest of farmers cultivating Bt Cotton. We have cut the price of Bt Cotton seeds and slashed the royalty fee so that farmers cannot be exploited by seed companies

A. We have withdrawn this order merely to take views of all stakeholders on the licensing issue. The ministry has put the entire draft of the order in public domain, seeking views of farmers, scientists, industries and experts within 90 days. Since this order will decide the licensing issue of GM seed technology of any crop in future, we felt the need to take everyone's views for wider consultations before coming out with a definite policy. I would like to make it clear that this particular order has nothing to do with what we had decided in case of Bt cotton seeds by cutting its price and slashing the royalty fee. That order stands even now without change. That decision was taken, keeping farmers' interests in mind so that they cannot be exploited by the seed companies through arbitrary pricing.