Over 9 mn farmers benefited from crop insurance scheme in 2016-17: PM Modi

He said soil testing should eventually be possible through hand-held devices

Over 90 lakh farmers have benefited from the crop insurance scheme during the Kharif season last year and the Rabi season in 2016-17, a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was told here on Monday.

The prime minister was informed that claims of over Rs 7,700 crore have already been paid to farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, according to a PMO statement.

Officials told the meeting that latest technology including smart phones, remote sensing, satellite data and drones are being used for speedy data collection with regard to crop insurance claims, it added.

The meeting was