Agri minister urges Fasal Bima Yojana expansion on crop insurance week

NEW DELHI, 01 July 2021: Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar today launched the Crop Insurance Awareness Campaign for Fasal Bima Yojana during the Crop Insurance Week as a part of the Government’s India@75 campaign ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence.

Speaking at the launch event, Union Minister said that Fasal Bima Yojana aims to provide security cover to each farmer. He also announced that the scheme achieved a milestone figure of INR 95,000 crore of claims paid to farmers.

The Minister said that state governments and insurance companies have an important role in the implementation of PMFBY. The result of their hard work is that in the last four years, a premium amounting to INR 17000 crores was deposited by the farmers, against which more than INR 95000 crores have been provided to them as claims. He further added that there is a need to expand the scheme in the country so that its coverage can be increased and more farmers get benefits.

The Agriculture Minister also flagged off IEC vans which will continue to engage the farmers on the PMFBY throughout the crop insurance week. He also launched PMBFY e-brochure, FAQ booklet, and a guidebook to assist farmers and on-ground coordinators to understand the scheme, its benefits, and the process of crop insurance.

Throughout the week, the campaign will cover all notified areas/districts under Kharif 2021 season, with a special focus on 75 Aspirational/Tribal districts identified by MoA&FW where crop insurance penetration is low. From 1 July – 7 July 2021, multiple engagement activities will be conducted with farmers of these areas/districts through PMFBY vans, radio, regional newspapers, wall paintings, including digital media.

The on-ground and digital initiatives will explain to the farmer about the basics of the scheme such as how to enroll in the scheme with the NCIP portal, CSC centres, Insurance Companies, Banks, how to claim insurance under various circumstances, grievance redressal, and reporting crop loss. Along with the farmers in tribal areas and aspirational districts, the campaign will engage women, farmers, as well.

Through videos and photo stories on social media, the campaign also aims to bring out stories of beneficiary farmers who have not only benefited from the scheme but helped the entire farming community through their thought-leadership.

Special care has been taken to ensure that COVID-19 protocols are to be followed wherever grassroots campaigns are being organized, especially during flag-off ceremonies undertaken by several states.

The Minister urged all state governments and other stakeholders such as banks, CSCs, insurance companies to work together and reach out to the farmers in these identified 75 blocks/circles/tehsils. He also urged all the farmers to come forward and enjoy the benefits of crop insurance, become self-sufficient in times of crisis, and support the creation of an Aatmanirbhar Kisan.

PMFBY was launched in 2016 under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and his vision to provide financial security to the farmers of India from vagaries of nature and secure their hard work. To date, the scheme has insured over 29.16 crore farmer applications (5.5 crore farmer applications on a year-on-year basis). Over the period of five years, more than 8.3 crore farmer applications have benefited from the scheme. Moreover, INR 95,000 crores claims have been paid against Rs. 20,000 crore farmers share.

The virtual event was attended by Minister of State Parshottam Rupala, Kailash Chaoudhary, and the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare Sanjay Agarwal along with other senior officers of the Agriculture Ministry, Minister of Agriculture from the participating states along with other senior officers, insurance company officials and other stakeholders.