Context:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare recently announced a major expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). From the Kharif season 2026, crop insurance will cover losses caused by wild animal attacks and paddy inundation, addressing long-standing demands from several states to protect farmers against localized and severe crop damage.
Key Features of the Expansion:
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Coverage for Wild Animal Attacks |
Recognised as the 5th add-on under localised risk category. States will identify wild animals causing crop damage and vulnerable districts based on historical data. Farmers must report losses within 72 hours via the crop insurance app with geotagged photos. |
|
Paddy Inundation Cover |
Reintroduced as a localised calamity cover for flood-prone and coastal states. Previously removed in 2018 due to challenges in assessment. Now reinstated to address recurring submergence risks. |
|
States Likely to Benefit |
Wild animal attacks: Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and North-Eastern & Himalayan states (Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh). Paddy inundation: Odisha, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand. |
|
Implementation |
Framework prepared following PMFBY operational guidelines to ensure scientific, transparent, and feasible nationwide implementation. |
|
Reporting & Claim Settlement |
Losses reported via mobile app within 72 hours; technology-based claims for timely settlement. |
Background:
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was launched on 18 February 2016 to provide affordable crop insurance covering all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest.
· Over the years, 36 crore farmers have applied under the scheme, with claims worth ₹1.82 lakh crore disbursed, demonstrating its pivotal role in agricultural risk management.
· States had long requested insurance coverage for crop losses due to wildlife, including elephants, nilgai, wild boars, monkeys, and deer affecting crops like paddy, banana, arecanut, ragi, maize, cotton, tur, and sugarcane.
Significance:
-
- Strengthens farmers’ resilience against localized, sudden, and severe crop damage.
- Ensures timely compensation through tech-based reporting and claims.
- Bridges insurance protection gaps, particularly for human-wildlife conflict areas and flood-prone coastal regions.
- Reinforces the role of PMFBY as a cornerstone of farmer welfare and risk mitigation in Indian agriculture.
- Strengthens farmers’ resilience against localized, sudden, and severe crop damage.
Conclusion:
The inclusion of wild animal attacks and paddy inundation in PMFBY marks a progressive policy step, acknowledging the emerging risks to farmers and providing a robust, technology-enabled safety net for agricultural communities across India.
