Lok Sabha Question No. 647 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Crop Loss due to Pest and Extreme Weather
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Mallu Ravi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 647

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03 RD  FEBRUARY, 2026

## CROP LOSS DUE TO PEST AND EXTREME WEATHER

## 647.   DR. MALLU RAVI:

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

- (a)  whether the Ministry has received data on crop losses (in hectares and estimated value) for mango, cotton, pulses or other major crops in Nagarkurnool Parliamentary Constituency caused by pest outbreaks, unseasonal rains and wind damage in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  number  of  farmers  affected  and  registered  for  assistance  under  crop  loss compensation schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) or other relief funds for these losses;
- (c)    the  statistics  on  paid  claims  vs  pending  claims  for  this  constituency  over  the  same period; and
- (d)  the steps being taken to strengthen early warning systems, pest management support and disaster relief payouts to mitigate repetitive agrarian distress?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the State Government is primarily responsible for providing necessary relief measures on ground level in the wake of  notified  calamities. The  State  Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural calamities from funds available in the form of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in accordance with the Government of India approved items and norms. Additional financial  assistance,  over  and  above  SDRF,  is  considered  from  the  National  Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, in case of disaster of 'severe nature', which  includes  an  assessment  based  on  the  visit  of  an  Inter-Ministerial  Central  Team (IMCT). The financial assistance provided under SDRF and NDRF is by way of relief and not for compensation.

The  State  Government  of  Telangana  is  allocated  an  amount  of  Rs.582.40  crore (Rs.436.80 crore Central share + Rs.145.60 crore State share) for the financial year 20252026 under SDRF, of which the first Installment of Rs.218.40 crore, as Central share is released to the State.

The data regarding crop damage/loss caused due to hydro-metrological disasters, is not  maintained  centrally.  However,  as  reported  by  the  State  Government  of  Telangana, during 2024-25 and 2025-2026, Agriculture and Horticulture crops have been damaged due to Heavy rains/ Floods/ Cyclones/ Unseasonal Rains/ Hailstorms. Further, in Nagarkurnool parliamentary Constituency during 2024-25 and 2025, Agriculture and Horticulture crops have been damaged due to Heavy rains/ Floods/Cyclones/ Unseasonal Rains/ Hailstorms in  an  area  of  15,756  ha  affecting  36,550  farmers.  The  State  Government  provides Rs.10,000/- acre for all types of crops damaged due to different Calamities.

(b) & (c): Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) provides for comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest for crops and area notified by the concerned State Government. This scheme is voluntary for States as well as farmers. All  willing  farmers  are  eligible  to  enroll  under  the  scheme.  Govt.  of  Telangana,  after implementing the scheme since its inception in 2016 until Rabi 2019-20 season, opted out of it. Therefore, PMFBY is not implemented in Telangana during FY 2024-25 and FY 202526.

(d): The  India Meteorological Department (IMD) has consistently issued timely alerts and forecasts to the public and concerned stakeholders. The Central Water Commission (CWC) is  mandated  to  issue  short-range  flood  forecasts  with  a  lead  time  of  up  to  24  hours  to concerned  State  Governments  at  identified  locations.  Timely  flood  forecasts  are  being issued when a certain threshold limit is reached.

IMD  follows  standard  global  best  practice  and  operating  procedures  to  deliver effective and efficient weather and climate forecasting services to the nation. The skill of the operational  forecasts  issued  by  IMD  for  various  extreme  weather  and  climate  events  is comparable to other national meteorological services of developed countries in the world.

IMD  uses  a  state-of-the-art  dissemination  system  to  share  all  severe  weather information and early warning with Disaster Management Authorities as well as the general public  through  various  platforms  for  necessary  preparedness  and  to  support  mitigation measures. IMD has adopted new techniques and technology from time to time to detect, monitor, and provide timely early warnings (for the entire country, including coastal and rural communities) for all types of extreme weather events like cyclones, floods, and heatwaves, which have devastating impacts on human lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

Recently, a new Central Sector Scheme, "Mission Mausam," was launched by MoES with the goal of making Bharat a "Weather-ready and climate-smart" nation.

The CWC has taken several steps by adopting various dissemination mechanisms to get maximum reach to the flood warnings, so that mitigation measures can be adopted by State Governments, SDMA, NDMA, and the public. Further, with an aim of disseminating information related to the flood situation in the country and flood forecasts up to 7 days on a real-time basis to the public through mobile phones, version 2.0 of the 'Flood Watch India' mobile application has been developed by the CWC, which provides current information on flood conditions across the country.

The Government is regularly sensitizing the farmers through its field functionaries by conducting different programmes, Trainings, meetings etc., which are being organized to farmers. The IMD/GoI regularly disseminates the Weather based Agromet advisories to the farming  community  well  in  advance  to  prevent  the  crop  loss  due  to  extreme  weather conditions.

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) through its 47 Central Integrated  Pest  Management  Centres  (CIPMCs)  across  the  country  regularly  conduct surveys  and  surveillance  to  create  awareness  among  farmers  and  issue  advisories accordingly for management of pests and diseases.

Various technical training programmes such as Farmer Field Schools (FFS), 2 day HRD programs, seed treatment campaigns are conducted to make the farmer aware about the safe and judicious use of pesticides. In these awareness programs farmers are being advised to use the Registration Committee approved pesticides with recommended dosage as and when required. During these training programmes, farmers are encouraged to adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques such as cultural & mechanical control of pests,  use  bio-control  agents,  bio-pesticides/  bio-fertilizers  and  need  based  chemical pesticides as a last resort.

Further, one CIPMC is established at Hyderabad in Telangana state. The IPM Centre regularly conducts survey & surveillance to assess the pest situation in the state including Nagarkurnool  Parliamentary  Constituency  and  disseminates  IPM  knowledge  through various programmes. Efforts are being taken for management of various pests & diseases of mango, cotton, pulses and other crops in the Nagarkurnool district.

On receipt of Memorandum from the State Government, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) is constituted and deputed for an on-the-spot assessment of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations, as per the extant items and norms. The report of the IMCT is considered by the Sub Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC) headed  by  the  Secretary  (Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  in  case  of  floods  etc)  /Secretary (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in case of drought, pest attack, hailstorm and cold wave)). Thereafter, the High Level Committee (HLC) headed by Home Minister comprising Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister and Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog considers the request of the State Government based on the recommendations of SC-NEC. The HLC approves the quantum of additional assistance from NDRF which is made available to the State and is subject to the adjustment of the balance available in the State's SDRF.

*****