'Extend PMFBY premium payment last date'

State JD(S) farmers' wing president Gangadhar Patilkulkarni urged the government to extend the last date to pay the premium for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to December 31, as many farmers were unaware that the duration to pay the premium ended on November 30.

He told media persons here on Saturday that government officials and insurance company representatives have not created awareness among the farmers, regarding the PMFBY premium payment.

PMFBY compensation amount for previous seasons is also not properly paid to the farmers, and pending amount is not yet released, he lamented.

State JD(S) farmers' wing vice-president Vikas Soppin noted that efforts would be made to unite farmers' organisations to create awareness on injustice being done to farmers in the PMFBY implementation. Farmers' letter campaign would be conducted, and establishment of farmers' banks by nationalised banks at hobli-level would also be demanded, he added.

Shivanna Hubballi, Sureshgouda Patil, and others were present.