Lok Sabha Question No. 470 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Compensation for Crop Loss
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 470

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH  JUNE, 2019

## COMPENSATION FOR CROP LOSS

## 470.     SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  scheme  for  the  farmers  to  recover  the  loss  of crops damaged by wild or stray animals, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the quantum of loss of crops being faced by the farmers due to wild/stray animals every year;

(c) the  efforts  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  control  the  menace  of  wild/  stray animals;

(d) whether the farmers themselves bear the loss of crops due to wild/stray animals due to which they have been facing huge loss every year; and

(e) if so, whether the Government is likely to develop any mechanism for the farmers for recovery of loss of crops due to wild/stray animals, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR )

(a) & (b): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provides financial assistance to States/Union Territories under Centrally Sponsored Schemes of 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant' for management of wildlife and its habitats in the country. The activities supported under the schemes inter alia include construction/erection of Physical barriers, such as barbed wire fence, solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus boundary walls etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields. As regards quantum of loss, the Ministry has not received any information from the States.

(c): In  order  to  control  the  menace  of  wild/stray  animals  the  Ministry  of  Environment, Forest and Climate Change is taking following steps:

-  The Ministry has approved a project for undertaking 'Immuno-contraceptive measures' for controlling the population of wild animals responsible for damage and destruction of crops.

-  A  network  of  Protected  Areas  namely,  National  Park,  Sanctuaries,  Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wildlife  habitat  have  been created all over the country under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.
-  To mitigate wildlife conflict along the linear infrastructure like rail tracks, roads/highways and power transmission lines passing through the protected areas and other wildlife rich areas, Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife has recommended that all linear infrastructure development Agencies shall submit wild animals  passage  plan  based  on  the  WII  Guideline  'Eco-Friendly  Measures  to Mitigate  impacts  of  linear  infrastructure  on  Wildlife'.  These  guidelines  suggest  for modification  in  the  design  of  the  linear  infrastructures  by  way  of  providing  ecofriendly  structure  which  will  ensue  safe  movement  of  wildlife  across  these  linear infrastructures.

(d) & (e): In  the  revised  operational  guidelines  of  the  'Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima Yojana' (PMFBY) from Rabi 2018-19, States have been given liberty to consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever the risk is perceived to be substantial and identifiable.

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