Government distribution of agricultural insurance payouts totaling 3,900 crore rupees to over 35 lakh farmers under the Prime Minister's Farmers' Insurance Scheme (PMFBY) as directed by Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
In a significant move to bolster the agricultural sector, Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan digitally transferred Rs 3,900 crore in crop insurance payouts to nearly 35 lakh farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). This insurance scheme, launched in 2016, has evolved to become a digitally-enabled, wide-reaching coverage that fortifies farmers' resilience against climatic and pest-related risks.
Since its inception, over 78 crore farmer applications have been insured, with Rs 1.83 lakh crore paid in claims, reflecting the scheme's large-scale impact and government's commitment towards farmers. The PMFBY offers comprehensive coverage against losses from drought, flood, cyclone, hailstorm, pests, diseases, unseasonal rains, heatwaves, mid-season crop loss, and prevented sowing, from pre-sowing to post-harvest stages, including damage during storage due to notified calamities.
The scheme operates on the principle of “One Nation, One Crop, One Premium,” ensuring fairness and simplicity for all farmers nationwide. Farmers can now file claims digitally via mobile apps, with real-time tracking, and receive payouts directly through bank transfers, making the process faster, transparent, and accessible to all registered farmers. Claims are processed within 15-20 days of damage report, with grievance mechanisms available for appeal in case of rejections.
The PMFBY also covers a wide array of crops, including all major food crops, oilseeds, pulses, commercial crops like cotton, and horticultural crops such as bananas and grapes. For farmers with landholdings up to 2 hectares, state governments bear the premium share, helping reduce financial burden on small and marginal farmers.
Under the scheme, even a single farmer's loss in a village is eligible for compensation, unlike earlier insurance rules where payouts were made only if an entire tehsil or block suffered crop loss. This ensures equitable distribution of aid and support to all farmers in need.
In addition to PMFBY, the government has also taken several other initiatives to support the agricultural sector. For instance, substantial fertiliser subsidies have been provided, with urea sold at Rs 266 per 45-kg bag and DAP fertiliser priced at Rs 1,350 for a 50-kg bag. The government has also set moong procurement at Rs 2,000 per quintal and disbursed Rs 43.87 lakh crore under the PM-AASHA scheme for wheat and paddy procurement.
The government is also taking steps to combat counterfeit fertiliser production and sales, with work underway on a stringent law to punish those involved. Furthermore, under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, teams will visit villages after the Kharif season to prepare for Rabi crops and promote high-quality seeds for moong, urad, soybean, and millets.
In case of crop virus outbreaks, farmers can inform authorities or even send photos, and scientists will be dispatched immediately to affected villages. The government is also working on water supply projects involving the Yamuna, Chambal, and Indus rivers to benefit states like Rajasthan.
Union Minister Chouhan also urged citizens to adopt Swadeshi products to strengthen local economies and boost the livelihoods of small artisans and entrepreneurs. He also highlighted the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, which has transferred Rs 3.75 lakh crore directly to farmers.
The PMFBY event, held in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, was attended by Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Dr. Kirodi Lal Meena, and lakhs of farmers, both physically and virtually. The event underscored the government's commitment to empowering farmers and ensuring their financial security.
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) extends coverage to a diverse range of crops, including major food crops, oilseeds, pulses, and commercial crops like cotton and horticultural crops. The government has implemented this scheme to offer comprehensive insurance against various risks farmers face, across different stages of crop cultivation. Furthermore, the PMFBY's digital platform enables farmers to file claims efficiently, with the assistance of mobile apps and direct bank transfers, thereby streamlining the claim process and promoting transparency in the agricultural sector.
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