Executive Summary:
This document is a response to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding compensation for crop damage due to wildlife. It outlines existing compensation mechanisms, including the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), central government assistance for wildlife habitat management, and ex-gratia relief for human-wildlife conflict. The response also addresses potential preventative measures and coordination with state governments. The answer was provided on July 22, 2025, by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Key Points / Main Content:
Crop Damage Compensation:
* PMFBY provides risk insurance against crop damage from non-preventable natural risks in notified areas.
* Losses due to wild animals are generally not covered under PMFBY, as such losses are considered preventable.
* States can notify losses caused by wild animals as an add-on cover under PMFBY at their own cost, with detailed protocols outlined in the scheme's Operational Guidelines.
* The Government of Maharashtra has not notified this add-on cover under PMFBY.
Wildlife Management and Conflict Mitigation:
* Central Government provides financial assistance to States/UTs for wildlife habitat management, including physical barriers to prevent wild animals from entering crop fields.
* An advisory from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recommends coordinated action, conflict hotspot identification, and rapid response teams.
* The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 provides regulatory functions for dealing with human wildlife conflict situations.
Ex-gratia Relief for Human-Wildlife Conflict:
* The Central Government has increased ex-gratia payments for human-wildlife conflict.
* Revised ex-gratia rates include:
* ₹10 lakh for death or permanent incapacitation.
* ₹2 lakh for grievous injury.
* Treatment costs up to ₹25,000 for minor injury.
* Loss of property/crops: subject to State/UT government cost norms.
* States/UTs are also paying compensation as per their own norms.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Farmers in areas with wildlife-related crop damage may be eligible for compensation through state-specific schemes or the PMFBY add-on cover (if adopted by the state). They may also benefit from preventative measures like fencing.
* Action Required: Inquire with their State Government about the availability of the PMFBY add-on cover for wildlife-related crop damage and existing state compensation schemes.
State Governments:
* Impact: States have the option to implement the PMFBY add-on cover for wildlife-related crop damage at their own cost. They also manage wildlife habitats and provide compensation according to their own norms and are expected to expedite payments.
* Action Required: Consider notifying wildlife-related crop damage as an add-on cover under PMFBY. Implement coordinated interdepartmental action plans, rapid response teams, and expedite compensation payments.
Central Government (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change):
* Impact: Required to provide financial assistance to States/UTs for wildlife habitat management and monitor the implementation of compensation schemes.
* Action Required: Continue providing financial assistance and monitor the effectiveness of implemented measures in mitigating human-wildlife conflict and compensating affected farmers.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana PMFBY: A comprehensive risk insurance scheme against crop damage due to non-preventable natural risks.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: A governmental ministry that requested the inclusion of wild animal related crop damage in PMFBY.
Government of Maharashtra: The state government that has not notified the add-on cover under the PMFBY for losses due to wild animals.
Development of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger and Project Elephant: Centrally Sponsored Schemes providing financial assistance to States and Union Territories for wildlife management.
The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: An act providing regulatory functions for dealing with human-wildlife conflict situations.
Lok Sabha: House of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Solapur district, Maharashtra: A district and state in India, mentioned in the question regarding crop damage by wildlife and claims settled.
Maldhok Sanctuary, Solapur, Maharashtra: A wildlife sanctuary in Solapur district, Maharashtra, where protective fencing is requested to prevent crop damage by wild animals.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 447
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025
COMPENSATION FOR CROPS DAMAGED DUE TO WILDLIFE
447. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether exists any compensation mechanism for farmers affected by wildlife-related crop
damage, and how many claims have been settled in Solapur district in the last three years;
(b) whether the Ministry will take steps to install protective fencing around Maldhok
Sanctuary to prevent crop damage by wild animals in view of the increasing amount of
sufferings in my constituency, Solapur, Maharashtra; and
(c) whether there are any plans to coordinate with the State Government to provide rapid
assessment and disbursal of compensation to affected farmers in the region ?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (c) : Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) provides for comprehensive
risk insurance against crop damage due to non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to
post-harvest for the crops/areas notified by the concerned State Government. The losses to
crops due to wild animals, being preventable in nature, were therefore not covered earlier.
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 add on cover at the cost of State Government. Detailed protocol for such
coverage has been given in the Operational Guidelines of the scheme. As informed by the
State Government, Government of Maharashtra has never notified this add on cover under the
PMFBY.
Further, the Central Government provides financial assistance to States/ Union Territories
under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes “Development of Wildlife Habitats”, “Project Tiger”
and “Project Elephant” for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country. The activities
supported under the scheme include construction/erection of physical barriers such as barbed
wire fence, solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary walls etc. to
prevent the entry of wild animals into crop fields.An advisory on dealing with human-wildlife conflict issued by the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change in February, 2021 recommends coordinated
interdepartmental action, identification of conflict hot spots, adherence to Standard Operating
Procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and District level
committees to review the quantum of ex-gratia relief, issuing guidance/instructions for
expedited payments, and provision of adequate funds for suitable portion of ex-gratia relief to
be paid within 24 hours to the affected persons in the case of death and injury to persons.
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides regulatory functions for dealing with human
wildlife conflict situations.
The Central Government has recently, increased the ex-gratia payment in case of
Human-Wildlife conflict. The revised rates of relief under ex-gratia are as follows:
S.NO. Nature of damage caused by Amount of ex-gratia relief
wild animals
(a) Death or permanent ₹10 lakh
incapacitation to human
beings
(b) Grievous injury ₹ 2 lakh
(c) Minor injury Cost of treatment upto Rs 25000/-per
(d) Loss of property/crops State /UT Government may adhere to the
cost norms prescribed by them.
The States/Union Territories are also paying compensation as per their norms.
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