Lok Sabha Question No. 521 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Damage to Crops by Wild Animals
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.521

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 th  FEBRUARY, 2024

## DAMAGE TO CROPS BY WILD ANIMALS

## 521. ADV.ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government is aware  of the crisis  in  the agriculture  sector  of  Kerala and noted the recent farmer suicides in the State;

(b) whether the Government is aware that farmers are suffering huge losses due to damage to crops by wild animals;

(c) if so, whether the Government is considering any action plan for this issue; and

(d) whether the Government will consider any special assistance to the State to support the distressed farmers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

(SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a):    The  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  under  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs compiles  and  disseminates  information  on  suicides  in  its  publication  titled  'Accidental Deaths  and  Suicides  in  India'(ADSI).  The  report  till  2022  is  available  on  NCRB  website (https://ncrb.gov.in).

(b)  to  (d):      Management  of  wildlife  is  the  responsibility  of  the  concerned  State/UT Governments. Details of crop damage by wild animals and cases of farmers suicides are not collated at the level of the Ministry. Compensation for crop damage is paid by the respective State  Governments.  However,  Government  of  India  also  provides  financial  support  to States/UTs through its Centrally Sponsored Schemes 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' for carrying  out  various  activities  for  habitat  improvement.  The  ex-gratia  relief  payable  for assistance under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes in case of depredation by wild animals and loss of human life or injury due to wild animal attacks, detail are as follows:

to

| Sl. No.   | Nature of damage caused by wild animals   | Amount of ex-gratia relief                                        |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a)       | Death or permanent incapacitation         | Rs. 10,00,000                                                     |
| (b)       | Grievous injury                           | Rs. 2,00,000                                                      |
| (c)       | Minor injury                              | Cost of treatment up to Rs. 25000/- per person                    |
| (d)       | Loss of property/crops                    | State/UT Government may adhere to the cost norms prescribed them. |

Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare,  through  the  Revamped  Operational Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojana (PMFBY) effective from Kharif 2020, has given liberty to states to consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by notified wild animals wherever the risk is perceived to be substantial and identifiable.

The state governments also take various interventions to control damage of crops by stray  and  wild  animals  such  as,  financial  assistance  to  Goshalas  to  manage  stray  cattle, radio collaring of the wild elephants, digging elephant trenches, erecting barricades along railway tracks, etc. The state governments also make provision to compensate farmers for the crop losses as per extant law of the respective states.

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