PMFBY: Gautam Buddh Nagar District Announces Action Plan to Safeguard Farmers from Crop Loss

The Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration has recently announced an action plan for the effective implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) during the upcoming Kharif and Rabi seasons. This initiative aims to provide insurance coverage for potential damages to crops arising from natural calamities, diseases, waterlogging, and other unforeseen events.

Situated between the Yamuna and Hindon rivers and adjoining Delhi in western Uttar Pradesh, Gautam Buddh Nagar has been grappling with recent floods, resulting in around 550 hectares of submerged low-lying areas, as confirmed by district officials. In an official statement released on Wednesday, the government outlined the action plan for the PMFBY, spanning the Kharif and Rabi seasons for 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26.

To efficiently execute the scheme in the district, the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd has been designated as the agency responsible. The crops covered under this scheme include paddy and millet for Kharif and wheat for Rabi. The insurance offers compensation to insured farmers in case of damages to these notified crops due to adverse weather conditions.

The insurance coverage extends to various scenarios, including the inability to sow crops, unsuccessful sowing, damage during the middle stage of crop growth, and destruction caused by natural disasters, diseases, pests, hailstorms, waterlogging, cloudbursts, landslides, lightning, and other related incidents. Additionally, damages occurring within 14 days after harvesting while crops are being dried in the fields due to hailstorms, cyclones, or unseasonal rain are also covered.

To participate in the PMFBY, farmers in Gautam Buddh Nagar are required to contribute a 2% premium (Rs 1,454 per hectare) for the notified crops of paddy and millet in Kharif, and a 2% premium (Rs 578.50 per hectare) for bajra. For wheat in Rabi, a 1.5% premium (Rs 1,157.25 per hectare) will be charged as the farmer's share.

The scheme is applicable to all farmers in the district, although it remains voluntary. Farmers who choose not to avail themselves of the insurance coverage must inform their respective bank branches by July 24 for Kharif crops and by December 24 for Rabi crops to opt-out. Failure to communicate their decision will result in the insurance premium being deducted from their accounts.