The Union government has expanded the PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to include crop damage caused by animal attacks. This is an important step as farmers facing losses from wild and stray animals damaging their crops have long hoped for this change. The added coverage aims to reduce the financial burden on farmers and help them handle such challenges more effectively.
Read More: Understanding The National Livestock Mission
Key Issues
The damage caused to crops by wildlife makes up a significant source of stress for farmers. Wild and stray animals inhabit large portions of farm fields, leading to economic losses. This illustrates a problem that is worsening due to habitat loss.
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Crops are damaged by stray cattle, elephants, boars, and neelgai throughout the year.
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Straying animal populations and unregulated legal frameworks lead to this condition.
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Reduction of the wildlife has brought forth new waves of human-wildlife conflict in West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, etc.
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Research indicates that animals destroy 30%-50% of some farmers’ crops and inflict dire economic losses on them.
Government’s Plan
The government is instituting measures to assist farmers to safeguard against damages caused to crops by wildlife. The new changes in the crop insurance scheme will be more beneficial. Insurance can now be claimed for such damages.
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From now on, wild animal damages will also be covered under PMFBY’s guidelines.
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Such losses are liable for insurance claims. Each state can assess the damages individually.
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This new cover will be incorporated as an add-on feature under the scheme.
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The PMFBY is now extended to 2025-26 supported by a budget stand of ₹69,515.71 crore, as decided by the Cabinet of the Union.
Technology Integration
The use of satellites and mobile applications enables faster damage assessments and claims processing. Farmers benefit from improved accuracy and access as the government employs technology to facilitate farming and claim settlements.
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The advanced ISRO crop damage assessment technology is integrated to hasten claim processing.
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Eight states are currently assessing the technical efficiency of the YES-TECH application for damage assessment.
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To broaden access, app-based registration for farmers into PMFBY is being introduced.
Conclusion
Adding crop damage caused by animals to the PM Fasal Bima Yojana is a big step. It will provide relief to many farmers. The government aims to protect farmers' livelihoods while making agriculture more resilient. This is done through financial support and advanced technology. The move addresses farmers' economic needs and promotes a balance between agricultural benefits and wildlife conservation.
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