Following discussions between the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to re-join the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
Tomar applauded the state government's initiative. With this significant decision, the crops of more than 40 lakh farmers in the state will be insured in the event of a natural disaster. Tomar stated that the Central Government has simplified and made PMFBY more convenient in response to state suggestions.
The Central Government is constantly working with the States to improve farmers' conditions, make them prosperous, and transform agriculture into advanced farming.
Reddy thanked the Central Government for re-implementing PMFBY in the state during the meeting. Reddy stated that following discussions with the Center, the State Government has decided to provide crop insurance coverage to farmers in the state through the PMFBY.
Andhra Pradesh has decided to implement the PMFBY beginning with the Kharif-2022 season. The Central Government is committed to empowering farmers across the country, including Andhra Pradesh, by securing their income-livelihood and realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's AatmaNirbhar Bharat (self-sufficient India) and self-sufficient farmer dreams.
Keeping in mind the suggestions of Andhra Pradesh and other states, the Central Government revamped the scheme in February 2020 with new features such as voluntary enrolment for all farmers, expanded use of technology in yield estimation, risk coverage to choose payment of the sum insured to the States based on the option and prevailing risk profile, and a 3% provision for administrative expenses. On July 7, a team led by Union Agriculture Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja also presented the scheme to the Chief Minister.
From Kharif-2016 to Kharif-2019, Andhra Pradesh successfully implemented PMFBY and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS). Poonam Malakondaiah, Special Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh, and Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Union Agriculture Ministry, also spoke at today's meeting. Ritesh Chauhan, the scheme's CEO and Joint Secretary, delivered a welcome speech and made a presentation. Senior officials from both the federal and state governments were present at the meeting.
