This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1408 regarding crop destruction by wild animals, specifically deer and wild boar, in the Beed district of Maharashtra. The response, delivered on July 29, 2025, by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, addresses concerns raised by Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane.
The government acknowledges that the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) initially did not cover crop losses due to wild animals, considering such losses preventable. However, following requests from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and State Governments, the scheme has been amended to allow states to notify losses due to wild animals on individual assessment as an add-on cover, the cost of which is borne by the respective State Government. Detailed protocols for this coverage are outlined in the scheme's Operational Guidelines. The Government of Maharashtra has not yet notified this add-on cover under the PMFBY.
Furthermore, the central government provides financial assistance to States and Union Territories through centrally sponsored schemes like Development of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger, and Project Elephant. This assistance supports activities aimed at preventing wild animals from entering crop fields, including the construction and erection of physical barriers such as barbed wire fences, solar-powered electric fences, biofencing using cactus, and boundary walls.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: A department of the Government of India responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane: A member of Lok Sabha who raised a question about crop destruction by wild animals.
Beed district in Maharashtra: A district in the state of Maharashtra, India, where crops are reportedly being destroyed by wild animals.
Shri Ramnath Thakur: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the question.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A crop insurance scheme in India that provides comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage due to non-preventable natural risks.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: A ministry of the Government of India. PMFBY allowed state governments to notify losses by wild animals on individual assessment at the request of this ministry.
Government of Maharashtra: The state government of Maharashtra, which has not notified add on cover under the PMFBY.
Centrally Sponsored Schemes Development of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger and Project Elephant: Central Government schemes that provides financial assistance to States and Union Territories for management of wildlife and its habitat.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1408
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025
CROPS DETROYED BY WILD ANIMALS
1408 SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether crops are being destroyed in huge quantities by wild animals- deer and wild
boar (Ran dukkar) in Beed district in Maharashtra;
(b) if so, the measures taken by the Government so far to prevent the loss;
(c) whether the Government is contemplating to implement a special scheme,
compensation system or fencing scheme to protect the crops from these wild animals in
Beed district; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): 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.
(c) & (d): 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.
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