The scheme has been able to provide financial assistance to the most vulnerable farmers, as around 85% of the farmers enrolled with the scheme are small and marginal farmers. The recent announcement by Finance Minister of India Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman during her 2022-23 budget speech on the use of drones for crop insurance will further strengthen the integration of technology for smooth implementation of the scheme on the ground.

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has successfully entered its 7th year of implementation with the upcoming Kharif 2022 season, completing 6 years of its implementation since its launch announcement on 18th February 2016 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Sehore, Madhya Pradesh. A flagship scheme of the Government of India, PMFBY aims to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of natural calamities. Over 36 crore farmer applications have been insured under PMFBY, with over INR 1,07,059 crores of claims have already been paid under the scheme as of 4th February, 2022.

Innovation Adopted In Implementation Of Priority Programme Including Innovative Use Of Available Resources Farmers Meeting conducted in 100% villages. Details published on Krushi Varta Falak in all Grampanchayat. Gramsabha on 1st May Involvement of Public Representative Effective use of “Unnat Sheti” Campaign Effective use of CSC Network and Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendra. Social Media Poster stuck on prominent places Mobile Van – IEC Van Local Radio Channel. Farmers groups, FPO’s

The scheme used competed Aadhar authentication via usage of Aadhaar number (De-duplication, etc.) and linkage to Jan Dhan Account. It also leveraged with other schemes like Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Yojana, Gat Sheti Yojana, Magel Tyala Shet Tale and Magel Tyala Vihir.

PMFBY was launched by Hon. RDD & WCD Minister along with public representatives. Training was provided to Agriculture, RDD & Revenue Staff at Village Level for effective participation of farmers and to Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) for filling of crop insurance form through CSC centers. Senior officers like Divisional Commissioner and Agri. Commissioner were involved in district level discussion groups and for Law and Order related issues, Dist SP, SDPOs and other officers were involved. Banks were also opened on Sundays and public holidays for farmers to submit applications and Krishi mitras participated by assisting in filling application forms.

The district administration conducted special Gram Sabhas in all 1,031 gram panchayats to educate the people about PMFBY. Additionally, 2,949 Common Service Centres (CSC) were established providing technical assistance to Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE). In order to disseminate information about PMFBY and to reach out to the farmers district level call center, print media and electronic media was used such as All India Radio, local cable channels, published bulletins and posters along with WhatsApp groups created including ministers, MLCs, MLAs and officers for planning.

Employees of various departments deployed in the task of conducting village level awareness campaign, collecting their insurance form and submitting it to the bank. Most of the farmers of the district are members of PACS so secretary of these PACS trained for this programme. For proper monitoring of the programme, Agriculture Department was given the responsibility for collecting, compiling information from persons deployed in this task. Use of WhatsApp group to quick share crop insurance information among various departments and banks.

Most of the farmers of the District are members of PACS and so Secretary of these Primary Agriculture Co-operative Society (PACS) were trained for this programme. Insurance facilities were provided to the farmers by Customer Service Centers (CSC) at Block and Nyaya Panchayat level. For proper monitoring of programme, Agriculture Department was given the responsibility for collecting and compiling information.

Information was uploaded timely regarding insured farmers on Crop Insurance Portal by various financial institutions. Geo-tagging and photo uploading during Crop Cutting experiment (CCE). Under electronic submission of CCE 63.2% of the target has been achieved for Kharif 2016 and 61.4% for Rabi 2016. Compensation was directly transferred into bank accounts of farmers.Convergence with other government schemes like National E-Governance Plan (NeGP) and Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme.

The cuckoo’s call chimed through the sky as a farmer looked up at the rising sun and the paddy field he was working upon was suddenly doused with golden sunrays. In Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu, climate and other geographical factors like lack of major rivers, rainfall, etc. routinely affects the agricultural produce. Apart from this, natural disasters are a commonplace, with floods and droughts spontaneously tormenting the natives.