How crucial is crop insurance for farmers in Bihar and Jharkhand? Understand the entire scheme—from premiums to claims.

Farmers in Bihar and Jharkhand often struggle to cope with the vagaries of the weather. The *Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana* (PMFBY) protects farmers against the risk of crop loss at a very low premium. Learn about the scheme's benefits and the process for filing a claim.

PMFBY (Bihar & Jharkhand): Agriculture in Bihar and Jharkhand has always been at the mercy of the weather. At times, a poor monsoon leads to drought, while at other times, heavy rains and floods destroy standing crops like paddy and maize. To shield farmers from the financial losses associated with such risks, the Central Government's *Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana* serves as a vital support system. Whether a farmer has taken a bank loan (such as a Kisan Credit Card/KCC loan) or is a non-loanee farmer, both can join the scheme and insure their crops.

How much is the premium?

A key feature of this scheme is its extremely low premium. For Kharif crops (such as paddy and maize), farmers pay a premium of only 2% of the insured amount. For Rabi crops (such as wheat and gram), the rate is a mere 1.5%, while a 5% premium is fixed for horticultural and commercial crops. The remaining premium is covered jointly by the Central and State governments through subsidies, ensuring there is no financial burden on the farmers.

For which types of losses is compensation provided?

The scheme offers protection at every stage of the crop cycle:

Failure to sow: If farmers are unable to sow seeds after preparing their fields due to scanty rainfall or drought, they can claim up to 25% of the insured amount.

Damage to standing crops: Compensation is provided based on an assessment of losses caused by floods, drought, hailstorms, pests, or diseases.

Post-harvest losses: If harvested crops kept in the field for drying are damaged within 14 days by cyclones, unseasonal rain, or hailstorms, claims can be filed on an individual basis.

How can a claim be obtained in the event of a loss?

If a crop suffers damage due to a disaster, the farmer must report the incident within 72 hours. This information can be conveyed via the 'Crop Insurance App', the toll-free number 14447, a bank branch, or the local agriculture officer. Upon receiving the notification, a survey team inspects the field to assess the damage, and the approved claim amount is transferred directly to the farmer's Aadhaar-linked bank account (via DBT).