Crop insurance to cover damage by wild animals

Farmers facing damage to their crops due to attack by wild animals can now file for claim under the central flagship crop insurance scheme. The participating states will have to notify add-on coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for such crop loss which can be assessed at individual farm level in a village or panchayat.

The National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) – apex body which takes a call on development projects in and around conservation areas including national parks and sanctuaries -had in its standing committee meeting on January 5 approved an advisory for management of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in the country, providing for states to utilise “add-on coverage under the PMFBY for crop compensation against crop damage due to HWC”.

Though the agriculture ministry has given this choice to the states to consider providing add-on coverage under PMFBY, all vulnerable states did not opt for the provision. This even as at least 10 of them invariably report crop damage due to atack by wild animals.