Lok Sabha Question No. 4181 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-29
Subject: Agricultural Loss due to Heavy Downpour
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4181

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH  MARCH, 2022

## AGRICULTURAL LOSS DUE TO HEAVY DOWNPOUR

4181. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the huge loss of agricultural crops in various States including Kerala in the heavy downpour in the October-November months last year;

(b) if so, the details of the crop loss and extent of agricultural land affected;

- (c) whether the Government intends to provide special financial assistance to the States to compensate for crop loss;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  performance  of  the  crop  insurance scheme implemented in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the Government will consider convening a stakeholder meeting to make the provisions of the existing crop insurance scheme farmer-friendly; and

(g) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a)  to  (d):  The  primary  responsibility  for  disaster  management  rests  with  the  State Governments.  The State Governments provide financial relief to the affected people in the wake of notified disasters from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at their disposal. However, in the event of disaster of a severe nature, additional financial assistance is extended from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per  the  laid  down  procedure,  which  includes  an  assessment based  on the  visit  of an Inter-Ministerial  Central  Team  (IMCT).  The  financial  assistance  includes  agriculture input subsidy as one of the components. The State Government of Kerala was allocated Rs.335.20 crore (Rs.251.20 crore as central share & Rs. 84.00 crore as state share) under  SDRF  during  2021-22.  The  entire  central  share  of  SDRF  was  released  to  the State.

IMCTs were deputed for assessment of damages in four States and one Union Territory (UT),  which  were  affected by heavy downpour in October-November 2021. Based on the reports of IMCTs and recommendations of the Sub-Committee of National Executive Committee  (SC-NEC),  the  financial  assistance  was  approved  by  the  High  Level Committee (HLC) from NDRF for States and from Union Territory Disaster Response Fund  (UTDRF)  for  UT,  subject to adjustment of  50%  of  balance available in SDRF/UTDRF. Details are as under:

| Name of State/ UT   | Name of Calamity   |   Area of crops affected (33% & above) (In Lakh Hectare) |   Amount approved by HLC (Rs. in Crore) |
|---------------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh      | Flood              |                                                     2.38 |                                  351.53 |
| Karnataka           | Flood              |                                                     6.42 |                                  492.39 |
| Tamil Nadu          | Flood              |                                                     0.83 |                                  352.85 |
| Uttarakhand         | Flood/Landslide    |                                                     0.54 |                                  187.18 |
| Puducherry (UT)     | Flood              |                                                     0.82 |                                   17.86 |

(e) to (g): The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)  is being regularly reviewed in  consultation  with  stakeholders  to  address  the  challenges  faced  in  its  operational implementation.  Accordingly, after detailed discussions with various stakeholders, the operational guidelines of the scheme were revised and revamped with effect from Rabi 2018  season  and  Kharif  2020  season  respectively.  The  major  improvements  made include making the scheme voluntary for all farmers, compulsory use of atleast 0.5% of the  gross  premium  collected  by  insurance  companies  for  Information,  Education  and Communication (IEC) activities;  penalty provision for  delay in  settlement  of  claims  by insurance companies & late release of share by States; intensive use of technology,   change in financial sharing pattern from 50 : 50 between Central and State Government in North Eastern Region (NER) to 90 : 10; long term i.e. 3 year contract to insurance companies; freedom to States to choose risk cover as per requirements; etc.

The  rationalization/revisions/improvements  in  the  crop  insurance  schemes  and consultations  with  stakeholders  are  continuous  process.  Decisions  on  suggestions/ representations/  recommendations/studies are  taken from  time  to  time  in  consultation with stakeholders.

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