New Delhi, March 4 (IANS): The central government on Wednesday assured the states of extending all help if required to support farmers who have suffered losses due to the recent rains.

Responding to a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the losses suffered by farmers due to the untimely rain, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said: "The Centre is in touch with state governments continuously. The states have sufficient funds... if they need more, they can write to the central government."

He said the states can release money to farmers from the state disaster relief funds.

The minister informed the house that huge areas of agricultural land were affected because of the untimely rains in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Punjab.

He further added that the government plans to launch a new agricultural insurance scheme by the name of Krishi Amdani Beema Yojana to reduce the financial burden of the farmers, in case, their crops get destroyed.