PM crop insurance scheme: States can notify losses due to wild animal attacks

The Centre has allowed States to notify losses to crops due to wild animal attacks as an addon cover to the PM crop insurance scheme, according to Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister.

Replying to a query on inclusion of crop loss due to attacks by wild animal under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMBFY) in the Rajya Sabha, he said the scheme provides for comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage due to nonpreventable natural risks from presowing to postharvest for the crops / areas notified by the State government concerned.

Stating that the losses to crops due to wild animals being preventable in nature, he said they were not covered.

“However, at the request of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and State governments, States have been allowed to notify the losses by wild animals on individual assessment as addon cover keeping in view requirement of the State at their own cost. Detailed protocol for coverage has been given in the Operational Guidelines of the scheme,” he said.