Last date extended, but few takers for Fasal Bima Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been receiving a lukewarm response from farmers in Kurukshetra and Ambala districts.

The last date of getting crops insured was December 31, but it was extended till January 15 after seeing the poor response.

As per data procured from the agriculture department for the rabi 2024-25 season, only 1,834 farmers have opted for the crop insurance and paid their share of premium of Rs 40.91 lakh for insurance of 3,564 hectares in Kurukshetra district. Similarly, in Ambala district, 3,012 farmers have opted for the insurance and paid a premium of Rs 46 lakh for 4,250 hectares.

Officials said since the scheme was voluntary and the government compensated farmers through Kshatipurti portal, the farmers were not showing much interest in insurance. However, the farmers said delayed compensation from insurance companies and complaints related to survey after loss were the reasons behind the poor response.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) spokesman Rakesh Bains said, “The insurance scheme has failed to impress the farmers due to various reasons, including delay in releasing compensation. After suffering losses, the farmers keep waiting for compensation and the companies keep making excuses, and sometimes, reject the claims on the pretext of delay in intimation.”

“There have been complaints of recording of lesser area during survey and returning of insurance premium after the loss. The farmers don’t get complete information about the insurance, too. The government needs to resolve the technical issues and run an awareness drive to remove doubts if it really wants to see more farmers opting for insurance instead of depending on the government for compensation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kurukshetra Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA), Dr Karam Chand, said, “Earlier, crop insurance was compulsory for loanee farmers, who had taken crop loan from any institution, due to which the crops of a large number of farmers used to get insured, but later, the option of opt-out was provided to them. The farmers then stopped getting their crops insured, claiming that they wouldn’t get anything after paying the premium in case there was no loss.”

Similarly, the DDA Ambala, Dr Jasvinder Saini, said, “Since the government also compensates the farmers for their losses, the latter don’t show much interest in getting their crops insured. They claim that delay in settlement of compensation claims was another issue behind their lack of interest.”