Special campaign to distribute crop insurance documents to farmers

The Agriculture Department in Chamba is conducting a special campaign “Meri Policy Mere Haath” under which policy documents under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) will be distributed to the farmers till March 15.

Dr Bhupendra Singh, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department, said under the campaign special camps would be held across the district to distribute crop insurance policy documents to farmers.

During the campaign, registered farmers under the PMFBY and the WBCIS will receive their policy documents through dedicated camps at village and panchayat levels. The campaign, which began on February 1, will continue until March 15. Approximately 7,114 farmers, including both loaned and non-loaned, will receive policy documents for wheat and barley under PMFBY. Additionally, around 1,200 farmers will receive insurance documents for crops like peas, potatoes and garlic under WBCIS.

Representatives from insurance companies and block-level officials from the Agriculture Department will be present at these events. Furthermore, special programmes will be organised at panchayat and block levels to educate farmers about the benefits of PMFBY and WBCIS.

Dr Singh emphasised that the purpose of these schemes is to provide a sense of security to farmers regarding their crops and to compensate for any losses caused by natural calamities. This initiative aims to ensure that farmers feel protected and can strengthen their economic standing.

He highlighted that during the kharif season, maize and rice are insured under the PMFBY, while in the rabi season, wheat and barley are covered. Under WBCIS, crops like potatoes, peas, tomatoes, cabbage and garlic are insured.

Registering under these schemes is simple, requiring farmers to provide a photo ID and land documentation at any Lok Mitra Center. For loaned farmers, insurance is facilitated directly by the banks upon the farmer’s consent.

For any issues related to crop insurance registration, farmers can reach out to their nearest block-level agriculture office or contact the Office of Deputy Director of Agriculture, Chamba. Assistance can also be sought from Bhuwanesh Kumar, District Representative of Agriculture Insurance Company, at 9816627278, or Madan Kumar, District Representative of Chhema General Insurance Company, at 8219438857.