Centre confident more States will re-join crop insurance scheme

The Agriculture Ministry said it is open to making pro-farmer changes in the flagship Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) so that the scheme responds to the climate crisis.

Pointing out that farming is directly exposed to climatic catastrophes, Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja said the demand for crop insurance is likely to increase. Greater emphasis is needed on crop and other forms of rural/ agricultural insurance products to provide sufficient insurance protection to farmers.

Addressing an annual review meeting of the PMFBY, Ahuja said digitisation and technology play a significant role in scaling up the reach and operation of crop insurance, with precision agriculture.