**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 647 in the Lok Sabha, concerning crop loss due to pest and extreme weather, specifically regarding Nagarkurnool Parliamentary Constituency. It addresses the data on crop losses, the number of affected farmers, statistics on claims, and steps to strengthen early warning systems. The response was provided on February 3, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **State Government Responsibility for Disaster Relief:**
* State Governments are primarily responsible for providing relief measures in notified calamities, using funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
* Additional financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) is considered for severe disasters after assessment by an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).
* Financial assistance under SDRF and NDRF is for relief, not compensation.
* **Telangana SDRF Allocation:**
* Telangana is allocated Rs. 582.40 crore for 2025-2026 under SDRF (Rs. 436.80 crore Central share + Rs. 145.60 crore State share).
* The first installment of Rs. 218.40 crore (Central share) has been released to the State.
* **Crop Damage Data:**
* Crop damage data due to hydro-meteorological disasters is not maintained centrally.
* Telangana reported damage to agriculture and horticulture crops due to heavy rains, floods, cyclones, unseasonal rains, and hailstorms during 2024-25 and 2025-26.
* In Nagarkurnool, 15,756 ha were affected, impacting 36,550 farmers; the State provides Rs. 10,000/acre for crop damage.
* **Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY):**
* PMFBY provides risk insurance against crop damage.
* It is voluntary for states and farmers.
* Telangana opted out after Rabi 2019-20; thus, PMFBY is not implemented in Telangana during FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26.
* **Early Warning and Forecasting:**
* The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues timely alerts and forecasts.
* The Central Water Commission (CWC) issues short-range flood forecasts.
* IMD uses a state-of-the-art system for dissemination and has adopted new technologies for early warnings.
* "Mission Mausam" aims to make Bharat a "Weather-ready and climate-smart" nation.
* Version 2.0 of the 'Flood Watch India' mobile app provides real-time flood information.
* **Farmer Sensitization:**
* The government conducts programmes, trainings, and meetings for farmers.
* IMD/Gol disseminates Weather based Agromet advisories.
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) conducts surveys and issues advisories through its Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs).
* **Pest Management:**
* Awareness programs educate farmers on pesticide use.
* Farmers are encouraged to adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques.
* CIPMC in Hyderabad conducts surveys and disseminates IPM knowledge, including in Nagarkurnool.
* **Relief Fund Assessment:**
* An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) assesses damage and requirements for relief.
* The report is considered by the Sub Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC) and the High Level Committee (HLC), which approves additional assistance from NDRF.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** **State Government of Telangana**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing relief to farmers affected by crop loss due to natural calamities; manages funds allocated under SDRF. Receives central assistance through SDRF and potentially NDRF.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the allocated SDRF funds effectively for providing timely relief to affected farmers; report crop damage and loss data accurately to the central government; submit Memorandum to the Central Government for additional relief funds if needed.
**Stakeholder:** **Farmers of Nagarkurnool Parliamentary Constituency**
* **Impact:** Affected by crop losses due to pests and extreme weather events like unseasonal rains and floods; eligible for relief assistance from the State Government (Rs. 10,000/acre); may be impacted by the absence of PMFBY in Telangana.
* **Action Required:** Engage with the State Government to avail relief assistance; follow advisories and training programs related to pest management and crop protection techniques.
**Stakeholder:** **India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Central Water Commission (CWC)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing timely and accurate weather forecasts and flood warnings; need to disseminate information effectively.
* **Action Required:** Continue to improve forecasting techniques and dissemination mechanisms; make use of the "Mission Mausam" initiative.
**Stakeholder:** **Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for conducting surveys, issuing advisories, and organizing training programs related to pest and disease management.
* **Action Required:** Intensify efforts to create awareness among farmers about pest management and crop loss prevention techniques; work closely with CIPMCs.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A crop insurance scheme providing comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest.
State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF): Funds available to State Governments for providing necessary relief measures in the wake of natural calamities.
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF): Additional financial assistance, over and above SDRF, considered in case of disaster of 'severe nature'.
India Meteorological Department (IMD): Issues timely alerts and forecasts for weather and climate events.
Telangana: State for which specific crop loss data and scheme implementation details are provided.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 647
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03RD FEBRUARY, 2026
CROP LOSS DUE TO PEST AND EXTREME WEATHER
647. DR. MALLU RAVI:
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 the Ministry has received data on crop losses (in hectares and estimated value)
for mango, cotton, pulses or other major crops in Nagarkurnool Parliamentary Constituency
caused by pest outbreaks, unseasonal rains and wind damage in the 2024-25 and 2025-26
seasons, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of farmers affected and registered for assistance under crop loss
compensation schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) or other relief
funds for these losses;
(c) the statistics on paid claims vs pending claims for this constituency over the same
period; and
(d) the steps being taken to strengthen early warning systems, pest management support
and disaster relief payouts to mitigate repetitive agrarian distress?
ANSWER
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): As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the State Government
is primarily responsible for providing necessary relief measures on ground level in the wake
of notified calamities. The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of
natural calamities from funds available in the form of the State Disaster Response Fund
(SDRF) in accordance with the Government of India approved items and norms. Additional
financial assistance, over and above SDRF, is considered from the National Disaster
Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, in case of disaster of ‘severe nature’,
which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team
(IMCT). The financial assistance provided under SDRF and NDRF is by way of relief and
not for compensation.
The State Government of Telangana is allocated an amount of Rs.582.40 crore
(Rs.436.80 crore Central share + Rs.145.60 crore State share) for the financial year 2025-
2026 under SDRF, of which the first Installment of Rs.218.40 crore, as Central share is
released to the State.
The data regarding crop damage/loss caused due to hydro-metrological disasters, is
not maintained centrally. However, as reported by the State Government of Telangana,
during 2024-25 and 2025-2026, Agriculture and Horticulture crops have been damaged due
to Heavy rains/ Floods/ Cyclones/ Unseasonal Rains/ Hailstorms. Further, in Nagarkurnool
parliamentary Constituency during 2024-25 and 2025, Agriculture and Horticulture cropshave been damaged due to Heavy rains/ Floods/Cyclones/ Unseasonal Rains/ Hailstorms
in an area of 15,756 ha affecting 36,550 farmers. The State Government provides
Rs.10,000/- acre for all types of crops damaged due to different Calamities.
(b) & (c): Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) provides for comprehensive risk
insurance against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest for crops and area notified
by the concerned State Government. This scheme is voluntary for States as well as farmers.
All willing farmers are eligible to enroll under the scheme. Govt. of Telangana, after
implementing the scheme since its inception in 2016 until Rabi 2019-20 season, opted out
of it. Therefore, PMFBY is not implemented in Telangana during FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-
26.
(d): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has consistently issued timely alerts and
forecasts to the public and concerned stakeholders. The Central Water Commission (CWC)
is mandated to issue short-range flood forecasts with a lead time of up to 24 hours to
concerned State Governments at identified locations. Timely flood forecasts are being
issued when a certain threshold limit is reached.
IMD follows standard global best practice and operating procedures to deliver
effective and efficient weather and climate forecasting services to the nation. The skill of the
operational forecasts issued by IMD for various extreme weather and climate events is
comparable to other national meteorological services of developed countries in the world.
IMD uses a state-of-the-art dissemination system to share all severe weather
information and early warning with Disaster Management Authorities as well as the general
public through various platforms for necessary preparedness and to support mitigation
measures. IMD has adopted new techniques and technology from time to time to detect,
monitor, and provide timely early warnings (for the entire country, including coastal and rural
communities) for all types of extreme weather events like cyclones, floods, and heatwaves,
which have devastating impacts on human lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
Recently, a new Central Sector Scheme, "Mission Mausam," was launched by MoES
with the goal of making Bharat a "Weather-ready and climate-smart" nation.
The CWC has taken several steps by adopting various dissemination mechanisms
to get maximum reach to the flood warnings, so that mitigation measures can be adopted
by State Governments, SDMA, NDMA, and the public. Further, with an aim of disseminating
information related to the flood situation in the country and flood forecasts up to 7 days on
a real-time basis to the public through mobile phones, version 2.0 of the 'Flood Watch India'
mobile application has been developed by the CWC, which provides current information on
flood conditions across the country.
The Government is regularly sensitizing the farmers through its field functionaries by
conducting different programmes, Trainings, meetings etc., which are being organized to
farmers. The IMD/GoI regularly disseminates the Weather based Agromet advisories to the
farming community well in advance to prevent the crop loss due to extreme weather
conditions.
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) through its 47 Central
Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) across the country regularly conduct
surveys and surveillance to create awareness among farmers and issue advisories
accordingly for management of pests and diseases.Various technical training programmes such as Farmer Field Schools (FFS), 2 day
HRD programs, seed treatment campaigns are conducted to make the farmer aware about
the safe and judicious use of pesticides. In these awareness programs farmers are being
advised to use the Registration Committee approved pesticides with recommended dosage
as and when required. During these training programmes, farmers are encouraged to adopt
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques such as cultural & mechanical control of
pests, use bio-control agents, bio-pesticides/ bio-fertilizers and need based chemical
pesticides as a last resort.
Further, one CIPMC is established at Hyderabad in Telangana state. The IPM Centre
regularly conducts survey & surveillance to assess the pest situation in the state including
Nagarkurnool Parliamentary Constituency and disseminates IPM knowledge through
various programmes. Efforts are being taken for management of various pests & diseases
of mango, cotton, pulses and other crops in the Nagarkurnool district.
On receipt of Memorandum from the State Government, an Inter-Ministerial Central
Team (IMCT) is constituted and deputed for an on-the-spot assessment of damage and
requirement of funds for relief operations, as per the extant items and norms. The report of
the IMCT is considered by the Sub Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC)
headed by the Secretary (Ministry of Home Affairs in case of floods etc) /Secretary
(Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in case of drought, pest attack, hailstorm
and cold wave)). Thereafter, the High Level Committee (HLC) headed by Home Minister
comprising Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister and Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog considers
the request of the State Government based on the recommendations of SC-NEC. The HLC
approves the quantum of additional assistance from NDRF which is made available to the
State and is subject to the adjustment of the balance available in the State's SDRF.
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