**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 2577 in the Lok Sabha regarding the impact of extreme weather events on farmers' income, to be answered on December 16th, 2025. It outlines the government's assessment, proposed revisions to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), and steps taken to strengthen digital crop surveys and farmer price support mechanisms. The document details ongoing projects and initiatives aimed at mitigating climate-related risks and supporting farmers' livelihoods.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Assessment of Weather Impact:**
* The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has been implementing the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project since 2011.
* The project studies the impact of erratic monsoons, extreme weather events, and climate change on agriculture.
* Risk and vulnerability assessments have been conducted in 651 agricultural districts, with 310 identified as vulnerable, categorized as 'very high' (109 districts) and 'highly' vulnerable (201 districts).
* **Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):**
* PMFBY provides comprehensive risk coverage against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest for cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds, and commercial or horticultural crops.
* The scheme protects against yield losses due to natural risks (floods, droughts, cyclones, etc.) and localized risks (hailstorms, landslides, etc.), including post-harvest losses.
* **Strengthening Digital Crop Surveys & Market Intelligence:**
* The government is leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT to enhance crop productivity and support farmer livelihoods.
* AI-based analytics and satellite imagery are used for crop-weather matching and monitoring sowing patterns.
* Market intelligence is strengthened through platforms like e-NAM, Agri-stack, real-time data, and digital dashboards.
* 1,522 mandis are integrated with the e-NAM platform across 23 States and 4 Union Territories.
* As of 30.06.2025, 1.79 crore farmers and 2.71 lakh traders have registered on e-NAM with trade valued at approximately ₹4.57 lakh crore.
* Efforts include Minimum Support Price (MSP) implementation, procurement expansion, and risk coverage through PMFBY.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers:**
* **Impact:** Farmers are the primary stakeholders, whose income and livelihoods are directly affected by extreme weather events. PMFBY and other support mechanisms aim to protect their income and reduce market volatility.
* **Action Required:** Farmers should register on the e-NAM portal to benefit from the platform's features and information. They should also be aware of the coverage provided by PMFBY to mitigate risks associated with crop damage.
**State Governments:**
* **Impact:** State governments are responsible for notifying crops covered under PMFBY and for implementing various agricultural policies and schemes.
* **Action Required:** State governments need to coordinate with the central government on PMFBY implementation, risk assessment, and support for digital crop surveys and market intelligence initiatives.
**Traders:**
* **Impact:** Traders are impacted by e-NAM, which provides them with a platform to trade agricultural produce.
* **Action Required:** Traders should register on the e-NAM portal to trade their produce across the States and Union Territories integrated with e-NAM.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A comprehensive risk coverage scheme against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest, safeguarding against yield loss due to natural risks.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for addressing the impact of extreme weather events on farmers' income and related policies.
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): A project implemented by ICAR that studies the impact of erratic monsoons, extreme weather events and climate change on agriculture.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The council implementing the NICRA project, conducting research on climate-resilient agriculture.
National Agriculture Market (e-NAM): A platform for strengthening market intelligence and real-time data collection for agricultural produce.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2577
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16TH DECEMBER, 2025
IMPACT OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS ON FARMERS INCOME
2577. SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of erratic monsoons, extreme
weather events and rising input costs on farmers’ income during the last five years;
(b) if so, the findings of such assessments;
(c) whether the Government proposes to revise the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
(PMFBY) framework to address climate-linked risks more effectively; and
(d) the steps being taken to strengthen digital crop surveys, market intelligence and
farmer price support mechanisms?
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 म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has been implementing a
project- National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) since 2011. The
project studies the impact of erratic monsoons, extreme weather events and climate change
on agriculture. District level risk and vulnerability assessment of agriculture to future climate
change and integrated simulation modelling studies for estimating the future projections of
climate change are undertaken. Risk and vulnerability assessment of agriculture to climate
change has been carried out for 651 predominantly agricultural districts as per
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) protocols. 310 districts were identified
as vulnerable out of which 109 districts have been categorized as ‘very high’ and 201
districts as ‘highly’ vulnerable.(c): Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) provides comprehensive risk coverage
against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest for cereals, millets and pulses,
oilseeds, and commercial or horticultural crops notified by the concerned State
Government. The scheme safeguards against widespread yield loss due to natural risks
such as flood, inundation, landslide, drought, dry spells, hailstorm, cyclone, pests/diseases,
natural fire/lightning, storm, typhoon, tempest, hurricane, and tornado. It also provides
coverage against farm-level yield loss due to localized risks (hailstorm, landslide,
inundation, cloudburst, and natural fire) and post-harvest losses due to cyclone, unseasonal
rain, and hailstorm.
(d): The Government has been strengthening digital crop surveys by leveraging Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and IoT-enabled systems to enhance crop productivity, improve
sustainability, and support farmer livelihoods. AI-based analytics using field photographs
and satellite imagery are being deployed for crop-weather matching and monitoring of
sowing patterns.Market intelligence is being strengthened through platforms such as the
National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), Agri-stack, real-time data collection, and digital
dashboards for monitoring arrivals, prices, and demand–supply trends. The Department
has integrated 1,522 mandis with the e-NAM platform across 23 States and 4 Union
Territories. As on 30.06.2025, a total of 1.79 crore farmers and 2.71 lakh traders have
registered on the e-NAM portal, and trade of 12.54 crore MT and 49.15 crore numbers
(including bamboo, betel leaves, coconut, lemon and sweet corn) valued at approximately
₹4.57 lakh crore has been recorded on the platform. To ensure that farmer gets fair price of
his produce, Government has taken various steps including implementation of Minimum
Support Price (MSP) policy, expansion of procurement operations, and risk coverage
through PMFBY, ensuring assured returns, reducing market volatility, and stabilising farm
income.
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