J&K crop insurance scheme covers 12.89 lakh farmers; Rs 220 crore claims settled

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, June 17: More than 12.89 lakh farmers in Jammu & Kashmir have been covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) since its launch, with over 6.85 lakh farmers receiving claim settlements worth Rs 220.35 crore against crop losses, officials informed a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday.

The meeting of the State Level Coordination Committee on Crop Insurance (SLCCCI) reviewed the implementation and progress of PMFBY and other crop insurance schemes across the Union Territory. Officials said a cumulative area of more than 4.05 lakh hectares has been insured under the scheme up to Rabi 2025, while total premium collection stood at Rs 463.37 crore.

Emphasising universal coverage of eligible farmers, Dulloo directed departments, banks and other stakeholders to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries reflected on the Kisan Rin (KRIN) Portal are brought under the crop insurance umbrella in line with Government of India guidelines.

He also called for leveraging the ongoing ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ to create awareness among farmers about the benefits of crop insurance and encourage enrolment under PMFBY. The Chief Secretary directed banks to actively reach out to Kisan Credit Card (KCC) holders and facilitate their participation in the scheme.

To improve coordination and address implementation bottlenecks, Dulloo asked the Agriculture Production Department to designate district-wise nodal officers for PMFBY. These officers would work closely with banks, insurance companies and district administrations to ensure smooth enrolment and implementation of the scheme.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting farmers from crop losses caused by natural calamities and adverse weather events, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for coordinated efforts to expand insurance coverage and strengthen the financial security of the farming community.

During the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Dr Ashish Chandra Verma presented a detailed review of the scheme’s performance, including the status of Kharif 2025 claims, Rabi 2025-26 coverage, enrolment of loanee farmers and implementation of the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS).

He highlighted the importance of expanding awareness campaigns through media outreach, the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ and other government programmes to increase farmer participation in crop insurance schemes.

Reviewing Kharif 2025 claims, officials informed the meeting that claims worth Rs 53.58 crore have been submitted, covering approximately 1.27 lakh farmers across Jammu & Kashmir. During the season, nearly 2.01 lakh farmers were enrolled under PMFBY, with an insured area exceeding 75,000 hectares.

The meeting was also informed that more than 2,100 loss intimations relating to localized calamities and post-harvest losses during Rabi 2025-26 have been received from farmers, involving claims exceeding Rs 5.52 crore. The Agriculture Production Department is coordinating with stakeholders to ensure timely settlement of eligible claims.

Officials reported significant growth in farmer enrolment and area coverage during Rabi 2025-26 compared with the previous season, with Jammu & Kashmir recording one of the highest growth rates in farmer enrolment among participating states and Union Territories.

The status of Kisan Credit Card holder coverage under PMFBY was also reviewed. While progress has been made, the meeting noted that further efforts are needed to achieve higher saturation levels among eligible loanee farmers.

The committee also discussed the implementation of the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme, including premium structures, financial implications and tendering processes. Advisories issued by the Government of India regarding proposed revisions to PMFBY and RWBCIS operational guidelines, as well as preparations for the national tender cycle beginning with Kharif 2026, were also reviewed.

Dulloo directed the Agriculture Production Department to complete all preparatory measures required for timely implementation of crop insurance schemes and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening farmers’ resilience against weather-related and production risks while ensuring greater income security across Jammu & Kashmir.