Port Blair, Sept. 7: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been presently notified for implementation throughout A&N for Kharif season 2022.  Under the scheme, paddy crop is presently notified for insurance. The maximum scale of finance fixed for paddy is Rs. 71002.00 per Ha (for High Yielding Variety) and Rs. 67053.00 per Ha (For traditional variety). The total sum that can be insured against possible losses is arrived at, by multiplying the scale of finance with the area covered.

As per the guidelines of PMBFY, 2% of the sum insured is to be paid by the farmers as insurance premium after availing subsidy under the scheme.  However, in the case of Andaman & Nicobar, farmers need to pay only 0.5% of the sum insured while the remaining amount is additionally borne as subsidy by   A & N Administration. 

PMFBY covers risks of losses arising from either of the possibilities of prevented sowing, sowing to harvesting (due to drought, dry spell, flood, inundation, pest, diseases, landslide, natural fire, lightening, storm, hailstorm, cyclone etc.), post-harvest losses up to two weeks after harvesting.  It also compensates the farmers against localized calamities affecting isolated farms in notified area/single peril risk.

Less than expected average yield due to mid-season adversity viz. floods, prolonged dry spells and severe drought etc. is also compensated for under PMFBY.

The enrolment under the scheme is voluntary.  All farmers including tenant farmers are eligible for coverage.  The cutoff date for the enrolment under the scheme for Kharif 2022 has been re-scheduled to 15/09/2022.  The farmers have to approach the SBI or Co-operative Bank of the concerned areas alongwith land records and enrolls under the scheme.

After enrolment, any losses to the crop arising out of risks covered in the PMFBY need to be mandatorily reported within 24 hours to the Insurance Company (National Insurance Company) directly or through Department of Agriculture and/or Department of Revenue.

For any assistance or queries, farmers may contact the Kisan Call Centre Help Line No.243434/18003451145 or approach the officers/staff of Department of Agriculture of various zones.  The farmers of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been appealed to take maximum benefits of PMFBY.