**Executive Summary**
This report, prepared for the Lok Sabha on December 2, 2025, addresses heavy crop losses due to cyclone in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It outlines the government's response, including disaster management protocols, financial assistance, and claim settlement processes. Annexures provide details on affected areas and steps to facilitate farmers' insurance payments.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Disaster Management and Financial Assistance:**
* State Governments are primarily responsible for disaster management and relief assistance.
* Relief measures are funded from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
* The Central Government supplements State efforts with logistics, financial support, and potentially the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for disasters of severe nature.
* **Crop Damage in Maharashtra (Specifically Sambhajinagar District):**
* Heavy rain and floods affected 608956 hectares, impacting 689075 farmers.
* Estimated crop damage value is Rs. 1695.01 crore.
* The Maharashtra government sanctioned Rs. 56314.42 lakh to affected farmers, with additional assistance of Rs. 10,000 per hectare (up to 3 hectares) for rabi season inputs.
* **Insurance Claims and Settlement:**
* No insurance claims were processed for the crops affected by localized calamity (black gram, green gram, maize, onion, bajra, arhar, sorghum & soyabean) in Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, as this peril was not notified by the State Government for Kharif 2025.
* Season-end claims are based on yield data from the State Government.
* **Initiatives to Facilitate Insurance Payments (Annexure II):**
* Losses from localized risks are calculated individually for insured farms.
* Farmers must report losses to insurance companies, the State Government, financial institutions, or through online portals.
* The government continuously reviews and improves crop insurance schemes to enhance transparency and accountability.
* A Stratified Grievance Redressal Mechanism (DGRC and SGRC) addresses claim-related grievances.
* The National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) streamlines data, subsidy payments, and information dissemination.
* The 'Digiclaim Module' monitors claim disbursal, with penalties for delayed payments.
* Premium subsidy payments are delinked between Central and State governments.
* State governments are required to open ESCROW accounts for premium deposits from Kharif 2025.
* Technologies like CCE-Agri App, WINDS (Weather Information Network & Data System), and YES-Tech (Yield Estimation based on Technology) are used for objective crop damage assessment.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh**
* **Impact:** They have suffered significant crop losses due to heavy rains, storms, and cyclones. They are eligible for relief assistance and compensation, including insurance claims (where applicable) and subsidies for rabi season inputs.
* **Action Required:** Report losses to relevant authorities and insurance companies, and engage with the Stratified Grievance Redressal Mechanism if they have claim-related issues.
**State Governments (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh):**
* **Impact:** They bear the primary responsibility for disaster management, disbursal of relief assistance, and assessment of crop damage. They need to coordinate with Central Government and insurance companies.
* **Action Required:** Implement relief measures using the SDRF, coordinate with the Central Government for additional support if needed, and ensure timely assessment and processing of insurance claims.
**Central Government:**
* **Impact:** Provides supplementary financial and logistical support to the State Governments and oversees the implementation of the National Policy on Disaster Management and crop insurance schemes.
* **Action Required:** Provide necessary support to affected states, monitor the progress of relief efforts, and ensure the effective implementation of crop insurance schemes.
**Insurance Companies:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for assessing and settling insurance claims based on government guidelines and yield data. They need to integrate with the NCIP and Digiclaim Module for efficient claim processing.
* **Action Required:** Expedite the claim assessment and payment process, and comply with the penalty provisions for delayed payments.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Crop insurance scheme under which claims are to be settled for crops affected by the disaster in Sambhajinagar.
National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP): Single source of data ensuring subsidy payment, co-ordination, transparency, dissemination of information and delivery of services.
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF): Fund from which additional financial assistance is provided in case of disaster of 'severe nature'.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: Union Ministry responsible for addressing the questions regarding heavy crop losses due to cyclone.
State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF): Fund used by State Governments to undertake relief measures in the wake of natural calamities.
O.I.H
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 390
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02ND DECEMBER, 2025
REPORT REGARDING HEAVY CROP LOSSES DUE TO CYCLONE
390. SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:
SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण
मं(cid:287)ी be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received a detailed report from the State Governments regarding
the heavy losses caused to soybean, maize, sorghum, onion, coffee and banana and other crops
due to heavy rains, storm and cyclone in the States of Maharashtra and Madhya pradesh
particularly in Sambhajinagar and Khandwa Lok Sabha Constituencies;
(b) if so, the details of this damage and in terms of estimated economic value crop-wise;
(c) whether the Government has considered providing a special economic package, apart
from the NDRF's provisions, to provide immediate relief to affected farmers in light of the huge
losses suffered by farmers;
(d) the number of crops for which insurance claims are to be settled for crops affected by this
disaster under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in Sambhajinagar; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to expedite the claim assessment and payment
process by insurance companies so that farmers can receive compensation as soon as possible
ANSWER
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 RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (c): As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the primary
responsibility for disaster management, including disbursal of relief assistance on ground
level, rests with the State Governments concerned. The State Governments undertake
relief measures in the wake of natural calamities, from State Disaster Response Fund
(SDRF) already placed at their disposal, in accordance with Government of India
approved items and norms. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State
Governments and provides requisite logistics and financial support. Additional financial
assistance is provided from 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). However, information received from
State Governments to Ministry of Home Affairs regarding area of crops affected is at
Annexure-I.As informed by the State Government of Maharashtra, in Chhatrapati
Shambhajinagar District due to heavy rain & flood, total 608956 hectares area is affected
and total 689075 farmers are affected. Estimated economic value of crop damage is
Rs.1695.01 crore. Government of Maharashtra has conducted survey of affected area
and provided relief and compensation to the farmers. Total amount of Rs.56314.42 lakh
has been sanctioned to the affected farmers. Additionally, assistance of Rs.10,000 per
hectare, up to a maximum of 3 hectares, will be provided for seeds and other related
inputs for the rabi season.
(d) & (e): As far as losses to the crops notified i.e. black gram, green gram, maize,
onion, bajra, arhar, sorghum & soyabean in Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, it is stated that
no claim has been worked out as peril of Localized Calamity has not been notified by
the State Govt. in Kharif 2025. Season end claim are worked out on the basis of yield
data received from State Govt.
Steps taken by the Government to facilitate farmers insurance payment is at
Annexure-II.Annexure-I
Details of damages as reported by State/UTs due to hydro-meteorological disasters
during the year 2025-26 (as on 27.11.2025)
S. No. State Cropped Area affected (in lakh ha.)
1 Andhra Pradesh 1.506
2 Arunachal Pr. 0.072
3 Assam 0.41
4 Bihar 0
5 Chhattisgarh 0.0068
6 Goa 0
7 Gujarat 0
8 Haryana 4.32
9 Himachal Pr. 0.32
10 Jharkhand 0.0017
11 Karnataka 14.81
12 Kerala 0
13 Madhya Pr. 0
14 Maharashtra 75.42
15 Manipur 0.039
16 Meghalaya 0.065
17 Mizoram 0
18 Nagaland 0.0058
19 Odisha 0.29
20 Punjab 1.93
21 Rajasthan 0
22 Sikkim 8.11
23 Tamil Nadu 0.29
24 Telangana 0
25 Tripura 0
26 Uttar Pradesh 2.22
27 Uttarakhand 0.0073
28 West Bengal 0
29 Andaman & Nicobar 0
30 Chandigarh 0
31 Dadar & Nagar Haveli 0
32 Delhi 0
33 J & K 0.78
34 Puducherry 0.001
Total 116.6046
*As received from Ministry of Home Affairs.Annexure-II
As informed by Crop Insurance Division of DA&FW as on 28.11.2025
The losses due to localized risks of hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloud burst &
natural fire and post-harvest losses due to cyclone, cyclonic/unseasonal rains &
hailstorms are calculated on individual insured farm basis. Farmers required to intimate
the loss to the concerned insurance company, State Government, financial
institutions/banks, online on National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) or PMFBY app etc.
2. The review/revisions / rationalization / improvements in the crop insurance
schemes is a continuous process and decision on suggestion/ representations/
recommendations of the stakeholders/studies are taken from time to time. Based on the
experience gained, views of various stakeholders and with a view to ensure better
transparency, accountability, timely payment of claims to the farmers and to make the
scheme more farmer friendly, Government has periodically revised the Operational
Guidelines of the PMFBY comprehensively to ensure that the eligible benefits under the
scheme reach the farmers timely and transparently.
3. Since the scheme is implemented by the State Government, therefore, in order to
resolve the grievances/complaints including those related to claims of insured farmers,
provision of Stratified Grievance Redressal Mechanism viz. District Level Grievance
Redressal Committee (DGRC), State Level Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC) has
been made in the Revised Operational Guidelines of the Scheme. These committees
have been given the detailed mandate as outlined in the Operational Guidelines for
hearing the complaints/ grievances and to dispose them as per the stipulated procedure.
4. Government has taken various steps to strengthen implementation of this
scheme, bring transparency and ensure timely settlement of claims :
Government has undertaken development of National Crop Insurance Portal
(NCIP) as a single source of data ensuring subsidy payment, co-ordination,
transparency, dissemination of information and delivery of services including
direct online enrollment of farmers, uploading/obtaining individual insured
famer’s details for better monitoring and to ensure transfer of claim amount
electronically to the individual farmer’s Bank Account. In order to rigorously monitor claim disbursal process, a dedicated module
namely ‘Digiclaim Module’ has been operationalized for payment of claims
from Kharif 2022 onwards. It involves integration of National Crop Insurance
Portal (NCIP) with Public Finance Management System (PFMS) and accounting
system of Insurance Companies to provide timely & transparent processing of
all claims w.e.f. Kharif 2024, in case payment is not made timely by Insurance
Company, penalty of 12% is auto-calculated and levied through NCIP.
Delinking of Central Government share of premium subsidy from that of State
Governments has been implemented so that farmers can get proportionate
claims relating to the Central Government share.
Opening of ESCROW Account by the State Government concerned for deposit
of their premium share in advance as per provisions of the scheme has been
made mandatory w.e.f. Kharif 2025 season.
Also, towards leveraging technology in implementation of the scheme, various
steps like capturing of yield data/Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) data through
CCE-Agri App & uploading it on the NCIP, allowing insurance companies to
witness the conduct of CCEs, integration of State land records with NCIP etc.
have already been taken to improve timely settlement of the claims to farmers.
5. Following technologies for Objective Crop Damage & Loss Assessment and
transparency have also been implemented recently w.e.f. 2023-24 under the scheme:
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 assisted by data inputs from such as Remote Sensing indices, Weather
indices, crop phenological information, soil types etc. using approved
Technologies/Approaches.
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