The Centre on Thursday (1 July 2021) launched a special drive to enrol more farmers under its crop insurance scheme known as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana that was launched on 13 January 2016 aims to provide a complete risk solution to cultivators at the lowest uniform premium across India.
The week long drive that started on 1 July, will cover all notified regions under kharif 2021 season with main focus on 75 aspirational districts wherein crop insurance penetration is very low.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar while launching the special drive virtually said until now, 29.16 crore farmers have insured their crops under Centre’s Crop Insurance Scheme.
Ministers of State for Agriculture, Parshottam Rupala & Kailash Choudhary; Agriculture Secretary, Sanjay Agarwal & some senior officers of the ministry also took part in the virtual event.
Tomar said, over Rs 95,000 crore worth of claims have been given to farmers since the launch of PMFBY, against the total premium of Rs 17,000 crore paid by them.
The minister added that there is a need to expand the scheme in India so that the crop insurance coverage can be increased & more farmers can get its benefits.
He asked the state governments and other stakeholders like banks and insurance companies to work jointly and reach out to the cultivators in these identified 75 aspirational districts.
Tomar also urged farmers to come forward and avail the benefits of PMFBY and become self-sufficient in times of crisis.
He flagged off Information Education Communication (IEC) mobile vans to engage with growers on Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana during the week-long drive.
Besides this, the minister launched a PMFBY e-brochure, FAO booklet & a guidebook to help farmers and on ground coordinators to know the scheme, its benefits and the registration process.
Through on-ground and digital initiatives, the farmers will be explained about how to get enrolled, where to report about crop loss and claim process etc.
Not only this but the campaign will reveal stories of beneficiary farmers who have not only benefited from PMFBY but helped the entire farming community through their leadership.
Along with the cultivator in tribal regions and aspirational districts, the campaign will engage women farmers also.
