Ziraat Times News Network
New Delhi — The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has approved major changes to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), expanding its risk coverage to include crop losses from wild animal attacks and the reintroduction of paddy inundation as a recognised localised calamity. The new provisions will be implemented nationwide from the Kharif 2026 season.
The move responds to long-standing demands from several states and aims to strengthen India’s crop insurance system by addressing sudden, localised and severe forms of crop damage. The changes are expected to bring significant relief to farmers in coastal, Himalayan and Northeastern states—regions where human–wildlife conflict and seasonal flooding are common.
Under the revised framework, wild animal attacks have been added as the fifth add-on cover under the Localised Risk category of PMFBY. States will identify vulnerable districts and notify the species responsible for crop losses based on past patterns. Farmers will be required to report incidents within 72 hours using the Crop Insurance App with geotagged photographs.
Wildlife-related crop damage has become increasingly severe in several parts of India, including elephants, wild boar, nilgai, deer and monkeys damaging standing crops. Until now, farmers received no insurance compensation for such losses.
Paddy Inundation Cover Restored
The government also reinstated paddy inundation as a localised calamity—seven years after it was removed in 2018 due to assessment challenges. Officials said the absence of this cover had created a significant protection gap in flood-prone districts. The updated modality introduces more scientific and transparent assessment mechanisms to evaluate submerged crops.
Benefits Expected for Farmers in Jammu & Kashmir
The new provisions are particularly relevant for farmers in Jammu & Kashmir, where crop depredation by wild animals—especially monkeys, porcupines, wild boars and, in some districts, bears—has become a growing concern. Hilly terrains, forest-fringe villages and orchard belts in districts such as Baramulla, Kupwara, Anantnag, Shopian, Doda, and Udhampur experience recurring wildlife-related crop losses.
The inclusion of wild animal attack under PMFBY is expected to:
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Provide long-awaited financial protection to orchardists and crop farmers in high-conflict areas.
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Reduce out-of-pocket losses for farmers cultivating apples, maize, pulses and vegetables in vulnerable belts.
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Encourage reporting and systematic documentation of wildlife damage through technology-based mechanisms.