Lok Sabha Question No. 3476 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Crop Damage Assessment System for PMFBY
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rahul Kaswan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3476

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## CROP DAMAGE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM FOR PMFBY

3476. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has launched Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) using  space  technology,  geo-informatics  and  UAV/drone  based  crop  damage assessment system for better planning of crop cutting experiments, yield estimation and crop damage assessment and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the manner in which these projects benefit famers especially in ensuring transparency, accountability  and  accuracy  in  damage  assessment  and  timely  payment  of  relief amount to farmers?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  (PMFBY)  envisages  use  of  improved technology  including  satellite  imagery,  drones,  Unmanned  Aerial  Vehicle  (UAV)  and  remote sensing for various applications such as crop area estimation and yield disputes and also promote the use of remote sensing and other related technology for Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) planning, yield estimation, loss assessment, assessment of prevented sowing and clustering of districts.  This enable more transparency, accountability and accuracy in loss assessment and  timely  payment  of  claims.    Accordingly,  Government  has  taken  various  steps  to strengthen implementation of the scheme, leveraging technology in implementation of the scheme, capturing of yield data/Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) data through CCE-Agri App  for directly uploading it on the NCIP, allowing insurance companies to witness the conduct of CCEs, integration of State land records with National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP)  etc.

Further, for timely and transparent loss assessment as well as timely settlment of admissible claims YES-TECH (Yield Estimation System Based on Technology) has been  introduced  from  Kharif  2023  after  discussions  with  stakeholders  and  technical consultations.      It  is  envisaged  to  gradually  migrate  to  Remote-Sensing  based  yield estimation to help assess yields as well as fair and accurate Crop Yield Estimation under the programme. This initiative has been launched for paddy & wheat crops from Kharif 2023  with  30%  weightage  to  yield  estimation  mandatorily  to  YES-TECH  derived  yield.

Soybean  crop  has  also  been  added  from  Kharif  2024  season.  It  is  currently  been implemented in 10 States.   Claim payouts in all 7 States implementing in Kharif 2023 have been done on basis of YESTECH.

Detailed guidelines for YESTECH implementation are laid down in YESTECH Manual, 2023.  It has been proposed to make the entire process more systematic, timely, objective and transparent. Technology Implementation Partner (TIP) agency selected by State will implement the selected  yield  model  under  the  guidance  and  supervision  of  an  expert  agency  called  Mentor Institute for Technology Roll-out (MITR) which is nominated by GoI. Guidelines for selection of TIP are furnished in YESTECH Manual.  Similarly, the list of MITR agencies which are Government entities like ISRO, ICAR etc.  has also provided.  Financial support for States for implementing YES-TECH is also indicated.

Roles and responsibilities of States, Insurance Companies, TIP and MITR agencies are well documented in the YESTECH Manual.  Towards ensuring discipline in the implementation, timelines for submission of reports on work progress during the season and end-of season have been stipulated. A system for payments to TIP linked with work progress is developed.  Penalty system for violation of timelines and grievance redressal and disputes resolution framework have also been represented.

The Government of India (GoI) has the authority to clarify, amend, withdraw, or review any provisions of the YES-TECH manual.  Thus, it is a conflict of interest free mechanism to ensure transparency/ accountability and accuracy in yield assessment and consequent claim payouts.

.

******