Sri Vijaya Puram, Dec. 31:Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) is one of the Flagship Schemes of the Govt. of India. The scheme is being implemented in these Islands since 2016. The Scheme envisages providing Insurance coverage to the farmers for crop loss arising out of natural calamities. The PMFBY supports sustainable income in Agriculture sector by providing financial support to the farmers who suffer crop-loss due to unforeseen events. The scheme ensures flow of credit to the agriculture sector and stabilizes the income of the farmers.
The PMFBY has been presently notified for implementation throughout A&N Islands for Rabi 2024-25 season. Under the Scheme, Pulses & Vegetables crops have been notified under Rabi’ 2024-25 season for insurance. One cluster consists of all 03 District (South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman and Nicobar (Campbell Bay area only) has been formed for the implementation of Rabi 2024-25 season under PMFBY. The indemnity level for all notified crops is 80% for Rabi 2023-24 season.
The Maximum scale of finance fixed for Pulses & Vegetables notified under the Scheme is as under.
| Sl. No | Crops | Scale of Finance – 2024-25 (Rs./hectare) | |
| Rabi 2024-25 | |||
| A | Pulses | Green Gram | Rs.53,770.00 |
| Black Gram | |||
| B | Vegetable | ||
| (i) | Tomato | Rs.1,70,604.00 | |
| (ii) | Bhindi | Rs.1,41,970.00 | |
| (iii) | Lobiya | Rs.1,19,618.00 | |
| (iv) | Brinjal | Rs.1,44,220.00 | |
| (v) | Cauliflower | Rs.2,36,530.00 | |
| (vi) | Watermelon | Rs.1,11,820.00 | |
Total sum that can be insured against possible losses is arrived at by multiplying the scale of finance with the area covered. All farmers (loanee or non-loanee) enrolled under PMFBY would be entitled for subsidy on the premium. Farmers will have to pay maximum or actuarial premium of 0.5% of the sum insured only for all notified crops sown in the notified area.
PMFBY covers risks of losses arising from either of the possibilities of Prevented Sowing, Sowing to Harvesting (due to drought, dry spells, flood, inundation, pests and diseases, landslides, natural fire and lightening, storm, hailstorm, cyclone, etc), Post-Harvest Losses up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting, for those crops which are required to be dried in cut and spread / small bundled condition depending on crops in that area, in the field after harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm, Cyclone, Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains. It also compensates the farmers against Localized Calamities. Less than expected average yield due to Mid Season Adversity viz. floods, prolonged dry spells and severe drought etc. is also compensated for under PMFBY.
All farmers including share croppers and tenant farmers growing the notified crops in the notified area are eligible for coverage. Such farmers are required to submit the necessary documentary evidence of land records prevailing in the UT (record of right, land possession certificate) or other document notified/permitted by the UT.
The cut-off date for the enrollment under the scheme for Rabi 2024-25 is 15.01.2025. The farmers have to approach the SBI or Co-operative Bank of concerned areas along with land records and enroll under the scheme or they can even register themselves in the National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) i.e. pmfby.gov.in.
After enrollment, in case of any losses to the crop arising out of risks may be intimated immediately (within 72 hours) by the insured farmer directly or through his own mobile or land line phone or any of his own media or toll free numbers to the implementing Agency (The Kshema General Insurance Limited), concerned bank, local Agriculture Department. For any assistance or queries, farmers have been encouraged to contact Kisan Call Centre Help Line No. 243434/18003451145 or approach the Officers/Staff of Department of Agriculture in various zones. The farmers of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been appealed to take maximum benefits of PMFBY.
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