Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare addresses a parliamentary question regarding the dissemination of scheme information to farmers in remote areas and the use of technology for crop risk prediction. The response details the measures being taken to inform farmers about scheme benefits, the implementation of weather monitoring systems, and the use of technology for yield estimation and risk management under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The information provided is in response to questions raised on August 5, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Dissemination of Scheme Information:**
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW) utilizes Mass Media Support to Agriculture Extension through DD Regional Kendra, DD Kisan, and All India Radio to create awareness of scheme benefits among farmers, including those in remote areas.
* Various media platforms such as radio, TV, newspapers, and social media are used for publicity.
* **Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):**
* PMFBY and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) provide financial support to farmers facing losses due to natural calamities.
* The scheme is demand-driven, with premium subsidies shared by Central and State Governments.
* The scheme is voluntary for States since inception and for all farmers w.e.f. Kharif 2020.
* It offers comprehensive risk insurance from pre-sowing to post-harvest, covering yield losses due to various natural risks and prevented sowing.
* **Technological Interventions:**
* WINDS (Weather Information Network Data System): Establishes a network of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs) at Taluk/Block and Gram Panchayat levels to create a hyperlocal weather database.
* YESTech (Yield Estimation based on Technology): Uses remote sensing, weather indices, and soil data to assist in crop loss assessment and yield estimation, benefiting farmers through approved technologies.
* **Implementation of WINDS:**
* Rajasthan and Kerala are implementing WINDS to set up AWS and ARGs for generating weather databases.
Impact Analysis:
* Farmers:
* Impact: Farmers in remote areas benefit from increased awareness of agricultural schemes. They also receive financial support through PMFBY in case of crop losses due to natural calamities. The use of WINDS and YESTech can lead to better risk management and yield estimation.
* Action Required: Farmers should engage with the information disseminated through various media and enroll in PMFBY to protect against crop losses.
* State Governments:
* Impact: State Governments share the financial liability for premium subsidies under PMFBY and are responsible for notifying crops and areas covered under the scheme. They also benefit from the hyperlocal weather data generated by WINDS.
* Action Required: States need to actively participate in PMFBY, contribute to premium subsidies, and utilize the weather data from WINDS for informed decision-making.
* Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW):
* Impact: DAFW is responsible for implementing and overseeing the various schemes and technological interventions, including PMFBY, WINDS, and YESTech.
* Action Required: DAFW needs to ensure effective implementation of the schemes, monitor their impact, and continue to promote awareness among farmers.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW): The department responsible for implementing agricultural schemes and policies, and disseminating information to farmers.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A Central Sector Scheme to provide financial support to farmers at the time of losses due to natural calamities.
Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS): A weather index based scheme introduced in the country from Kharif 2016 season.
Weather Information Network Data System (WINDS): A system to set up a network of Automatic Weather Stations and Rain Gauges at Taluk/Block and Gram Panchayat level.
Yield Estimation System Based on Technology (YESTECH): A technology-based yield estimation mechanism developed to assist in crop loss assessment and yield estimation.
Rajasthan: A state in India implementing WINDS to set up Automatic Weather Stations and Automatic Rain Gauges.
Kerala: A state in India implementing WINDS to set up Automatic Weather Stations and Automatic Rain Gauges.
Mass Media Support to Agriculture Extension: A Central Sector Scheme implemented through DD Regional Kendra, DD Kisan and All India Radio to create awareness and dissemination of scheme benefits among the farming community.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2699
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05th August, 2025
Dissemination of Schemes’ Information to Farmers in Remote Areas
2699. Smt. Bijuli Kalita Medhi
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष और (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of measures which are being taken to ensure farmers in remote areas are
informed about the scheme’s benefits, given the voluntary nature of the program;
(b) the increase in Automatic Weather Stations and Rain Gauges specifically benefit
States like Rajasthan (arid zones) and Kerala (monsoon-dependent crops);
(c) whether there are any plans to extend the Yield Estimation System Based on
Technology (YES-TECH) and Weather Information and Network Data System (WINDS) to
include AI-driven analytics or machine learning to predict crop risks more effectively in the
long term; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)
(a) The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing a
Central Sector Scheme “Mass Media Support to Agriculture Extension” through DD Regional
Kendra, DD Kisan and All India Radio to create awareness and dissemination of scheme
benefits among the farming community across the country including remote areas. Under the
scheme, 18 DD Regional Kendras, 97 FM stations of AIR and DD Kisan are being utilized for
wider publicity of department schemes, on-going initiatives, policy decisions, advisories etc.
In addition, "Audio-Visual spots are being used to broadcast and telecast information about
the DA&FW schemes through Doordarshan, All India Radio, and private TV and radio
channels as a part of ‘Focused Publicity and Awareness Campaign’.
Besides, the publicity & awareness is also carried out through Outdoor Publicity as
well as through print advertisements in leading newspapers across the country. The socialmedia platforms viz Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, LinkedIn, Whatsapp, Public
App etc are also being used for better outreach and wider publicity about details of Farmers
Welfare Schemes of the Department.
(b) to (d) The Department of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare is implementing a Central
Sector Scheme – ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ (PMFBY) to provide financial support
to farmers at the time of losses due to natural calamities, a yield index-based ‘Pradhan Mantri
Fasal Bima Yojana’ (PMFBY) and weather index based ‘Restructured Weather Based Crop
Insurance Scheme’ (RWBCIS) have been introduced in the country from Kharif 2016 season.
It is a demand driven scheme and financial liability on premium subsidy to farmers is shared
by the Central and State Government on 50: 50 basis and 90 : 10 in North Eastern States &
other Hilly states, with effect from Kharif 2020 season. The scheme is voluntary for the States
since inception and for all farmers w.e.f. Kharif 2020.
As a support mechanism to assist the farmers, 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. The scheme not only safeguards against wide
spread yield loss due to non-preventable natural risks/ & extreme climate calamities viz.
flood, inundation, landslide, drought, heat waves, hailstorm, cyclone, pests/diseases, natural
fire and lightening, storm, typhoon, tempest, hurricane, tornado etc. but also, against farm
level yield loss due to localized risks (hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloud burst and natural
fire) and post-harvest losses due to cyclone, cyclonic/unseasonal rain and hailstorm and
prevented sowing.
Further, the Scheme has introduced various technological interventions against climate
related crop losses like WINDS and YES-TECH. The details of these technological
interventions in the Scheme are as under:
a) WINDS (Weather Information Network & Data System)- is a pioneering initiative of the
country to set-up a network of Automatic Weather Stations & Rain Gauges at
Taluk/Block and Gram Panchayat level, respectively, to create a strong database of
hyper-local weather data for the different Govt. and other entities to use for all farmer
and farming oriented services.
b) YES-Tech (Yield Estimation based on Technology)- is a technology-based yield
estimation mechanism which has been developed after 2 years of rigorous testing and
pilot runs across 100 districts of the country. Crop Loss assessment and Yield
estimation are assisted by data received from Remote Sensing indices, Weather
indices, crop phenological information, soil types etc. using approved
technologies/approaches for the benefit of farmers.
The states of Rajasthan and Kerala are implementing WINDS (Weather Information
Network & Data System) under which Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) & Automatic
Rain Gauges (ARGs) will be set up across the state for generating a weather
database.
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