Lok Sabha Question No. 1602 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Assessment of Claims and Compensation under PMFBY
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Virendra Singh, Dr. Indra Hang Subba

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1602

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 th  July, 2025

## ASSESSMENT OF CLAIMS AND COMPENSATION UNDER PMFBY

1602   Dr. Indra Hang Subba:

Shri Virendra Singh:

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

(a) the percentage of the settlement of agriculture insurance claims under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) across the country, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether modern technology is being used for quick and accurate assessment of crop yield/loss, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether wild animals like nilgai, banroach, wild boar, porcupine and cattle etc. cause heavy damage to the crops of farmers;

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  compensation  to  the  farmers  for  the damage caused to their crops by wild animals through PMFBY and if so, the quantum of compensation paid and if not, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether many farmers are unable to use their agricultural land due to lack of resources and information and thus their farm remain vacant from April to July in many States including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha; and

(f) whether the Government has any scheme so that their land can be used at the same time and farmers can get benefits, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) :    Majority  of  the  claims  are  settled    within  the  stipulated  timelines  under  the Operational Guidelines of the scheme i.e within 21 days of the receipt requisite yield data from the concerned State Government,  by the insurance companies.    However, during the implementation of PMFBY, some complaints/grievances were received in the past about payment of claims which are primarily on account of (a) delay in providing State Government share of subsidy  (b) non-payment/delayed payment or under payment of claims on account of incorrect/delayed submission of insurance proposals by banks (c) discrepancy in yield data & consequent disputes between State Government and insurance companies etc.  The pending claims on account of these issue are settled after their resolution as per provisions of the scheme.  Out of the total reported claims of Rs. 1.88 lakh crore so far, Rs. 1.83 lakh crore (97.34%)  have already been paid to the farmers.  The rest of the claims is due on account  of  non-receipt  of  premium  subsidy  from  State  Govt,,  non  payment/delayed payment/under payment due to incorrect proposals by banks  and disputes in yield data etc.

(b) :   In order to bring in more efficiency and  transparency in yield assessment as well as keeping in view  various difficulties  like  increase  in  number of  Crop  Cutting  Experiments (CCEs) due to reduction in unit area of insurance to village/village panchayat, shortage of manpower/infrastructure  with  States,  short  window  available  for  conducting  of  CCEs, manual data collection and transmission resulting in delay in calculation and settlement of claims; it has been decided to infuse technology in estimation of yield.   Accordingly, based on  the different pilot studies, conducted through Mahalanobis National Crop Forecasting Centre  (MNCFC)  under  the  Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare,  it  has  been decided  to  implement  YES-TECH  (Yield  Estimation  System  Based  on  Technology)  for gradual migration to Remote-Sensing based yield estimation.   Under YESTECH, various models using various inputs like remote sensing data, soil moisture data etc., have been developed and implemented.  This initiative has been launched for paddy & wheat crops from Kharif 2023  and for soybean crop from Kharif 2024 wherein 30% weightage to yield estimation is to be mandatorily be assigned to YES-TECH derived yield.   10 major States have adopted the YES-TECH for implementation in their respective States.

(c)  & (d):  PMFBY provides for comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage due to non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest for the crops/areas notified by  the  concerned  State  Government.      The  losses  to  crops  due  to  wild  animals,  being preventable  in  nature,  were  therefore  not  covered  earlier.    However,  at  the  request  of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and State Governments, States have been allowed to notify the losses by wild animals on individual assessment as add on cover at the cost of State Government.  Detailed protocol for such coverage has been given in the Operational Guidelines of the scheme.

(e)  &  (f):    Govt.  has  taken  various  initiatives/schemes  such  as  Bee-Keeping,  Bamboo Plantation,  Live-stock  rearing  &  fisheries  etc.  to  provide  income  support  to  farmers  in addition to their regular farming activities during lean seasons.

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