Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Ensuring Farmers' Financial Security
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a flagship agricultural insurance scheme launched by the Government of India in 2016.1 It aims to provide financial support2 to farmers who face crop losses or damage due to unforeseen natural calamities, pests, and diseases.3 By offering comprehensive risk coverage at an affordable premium, PMFBY plays a crucial role in stabilizing farm income, encouraging the adoption of modern agricultural practices, and ensuring food security in the nation.4
Key Objectives and Benefits:
- Financial Protection: PMFBY provides insurance coverage against a wide range of risks, including natural fire and lightning, storms, hailstorms, cyclones, floods, landslides, droughts, dry spells, pests, and diseases. It also covers post-harvest losses for up to two weeks for crops dried in the field and losses due to localized calamities like hailstorms, landslides, and inundation affecting individual farms.5
- Affordable Premiums: Farmers pay a nominal premium for the insurance coverage: 2% for Kharif food and oilseed crops, 1.5% for Rabi food and oilseed crops, and 5% for annual commercial and horticultural crops.6 The7 remaining premium is subsidized by the government, significantly reducing the financial burden on farmers.8 In the North-Eastern states, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh, the government even pays the entire premium.9
- Comprehensive Coverage: The scheme covers losses throughout the crop cycle, from pre-sowing to post-harvest. It also includes coverage for prevented sowing, where farmers are unable to sow due to adverse weather conditions, providing a claim of up to 25% of the sum insured.10
- Faster Claim Settlement: PMFBY aims to expedite the claim settlement process through the use of advanced technologies like satellite imagery, drones, and mobile apps for accurate and quick loss assessment.11 The goal is to disburse claims within two months of the harvest, ensuring timely financial assistance to affected farmers.
- Technology-Driven Implementation: The scheme utilizes the National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) for efficient administration, transparency, and coordination among stakeholders. Farmers can also access information and services through the PMFBY portal and mobile app.12
Enrollment Process:
Farmers can enroll in PMFBY through various channels:
- Banks: Loanee farmers who have been sanctioned Short-Term Seasonal Agricultural Operations (SAO) Loans/Kisan Credit Card (KCC) for notified crops are enrolled by the Financial Institutions (FIs) through the NCIP portal. Non-loanee farmers can approach the nearest bank branch to fill out the proposal form and submit the required documents along with the premium.13
- Common Service Centers (CSCs): Non-loanee farmers can also enroll through their nearest CSC.14
- Insurance Companies: Farmers can contact authorized channel partners of empanelled insurance companies.15
- Post Offices: Enrollment is also facilitated through designated post offices.
- PMFBY Portal: Farmers can directly enroll online through the official PMFBY portal.16
Documents Required for Enrollment (for non-loanee farmers):
- Land ownership documents (e.g., Records of Right (RoR), Land Possession Certificate (LPC)).17
- Aadhar card.
- Bank passbook with the farmer's name, account number, and IFSC code clearly mentioned.
- Crop Sowing Certificate (if mandated by the State Government).
- For tenant farmers: Land ownership proof/contract document or any other document specified by the State Government.18
Claim Process:
In the event of crop loss or damage due to insured perils, farmers need to follow the claim process:
- Intimation of Loss: Farmers must inform the insurance company within 72 hours of the occurrence of the event.19 This can be done through the toll-free number (1800-2660700 or 1800-209-5959), the respective bank, the local agriculture department, or the insurance company's local office.20 Information should include the survey number, insured crop, and affected acreage.
- Submission of Documents: Farmers may need to submit a claim form and provide necessary documents as requested by the insurance company.21
- Loss Assessment: The insurance company, in coordination with the State Government, will conduct a loss assessment.22 For widespread losses, Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) are used to estimate the average yield loss in the insured area. For localized calamities and post-harvest losses, individual farm assessments are carried out.23
- Claim Settlement: Based on the loss assessment, the claim amount is calculated, and the insurance company disburses the payment directly to the farmer's bank account, typically within 30 days of the government's damage notification or the final assessment.
Importance of the PMFBY Certificate:
While the prompt specifically asks about a "certificate," it's important to note that under PMFBY, farmers typically receive a policy document or a receipt upon enrollment, which serves as proof of their insurance coverage.24 This document contains crucial details such as the insured crop, sum insured, premium paid, policy period, and the terms and conditions of the scheme.25
Farmers should carefully preserve this document as it is essential for initiating a claim in case of crop loss. While there might not be a specific document labeled "certificate," this policy document serves as the official confirmation of their participation in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and their entitlement to its benefits.
By providing financial security and reducing the vulnerability of farmers to agricultural risks, PMFBY plays a vital role in fostering sustainable agricultural growth and the overall well-being of the farming community in India.26