**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1440 regarding the technology-based crop assessment system used for cotton crop insurance claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts of Haryana during the Kharif season of 2023. It clarifies the government's position on using technology for yield estimation, addresses complaints received, and provides details on insurance claims paid. The State Level Technical Committee (STAC) made key decisions on August 20, 2024, to resolve yield data disputes.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Technology in PMFBY:**
* The PMFBY encourages the use of technology for improved implementation.
* The YESTECH (Yield Estimation System Based on Technology) initiative was launched for paddy and wheat crops from Kharif 2023, and for soybean crop from Kharif 2024, but cotton is not included under YESTECH.
* **Yield Dispute Resolution:**
* Disputes between insurance companies and state governments regarding yield data are settled through the STAC and, on appeal, the Central Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC).
* For the Kharif 2023 season, the STAC Haryana resolved a yield data dispute for cotton in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts by obtaining technical yield data from MNCFC/HARSAC, which was accepted by both the State Government and Insurance company.
* **Complaints and Grievance Redressal:**
* A complaint was received from Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha regarding the settlement of cotton crop claims using technology-based yield estimates.
* The State Government has been advised to take necessary action based on the complaint and scheme guidelines.
* Affected farmers can appeal the STAC's decision through the State Level Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC).
* **Insurance Claim Details:**
* Bhiwani: Claims paid to 25,527 farmers, covering 35,693.82 hectares, totaling INR 95.17 Crs.
* Charkhi Dadri: Claims paid to 5,988 farmers, covering 6,587.33 hectares, totaling INR 11.26 Crs.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Farmers in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts:**
* *Impact:* Insurance claims for cotton crops during Kharif 2023 were assessed using a technology-based system, leading to disputes and complaints. They are affected by the yield estimation methods used and the settlement of claims.
* *Action Required:* Farmers can appeal the STAC's decision through the SGRC if they are dissatisfied with the claim settlement.
* **State Government of Haryana:**
* *Impact:* Involved in resolving yield data disputes, implementing the PMFBY scheme, and addressing farmer complaints.
* *Action Required:* The State Government is advised to take necessary action based on the complaint received from Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha and scheme guidelines.
* **Insurance Companies:**
* *Impact:* Directly involved in the assessment and settlement of insurance claims. They must adhere to the decisions made by the STAC and CTAC.
* *Action Required:* Comply with the STAC's decision on yield data and participate in the grievance redressal process if appeals are made.
* **Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overseeing the implementation of PMFBY, addressing complaints, and ensuring the use of technology to improve efficiency and transparency in yield assessment.
* *Action Required:* Continue monitoring the implementation of PMFBY, address farmer grievances, and promote the use of technology in crop assessment.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A government-sponsored crop insurance scheme mentioned in the context of technology-based crop assessment and insurance claims.
Kharif season of 2023: The agricultural season during which cotton crop insurance claims were assessed in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts.
Bhiwani district, Haryana: One of the districts in Haryana where the technology-based crop assessment system was used for cotton crop insurance claims.
Charkhi Dadri district, Haryana: One of the districts in Haryana where the technology-based crop assessment system was used for cotton crop insurance claims.
YESTECH (Yield Estimation System Based on Technology): A technology-based system for yield estimation using remote sensing data and soil moisture data, implemented for paddy, wheat and soybean crops.
Mahalanobis National Crop Forecasting Centre (MNCFC): An organization under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare that conducted pilot studies for YESTECH.
Operational Guidelines 2023: Document outlining the guidelines for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which includes clauses for dispute resolution.
State Level Technical Committee (STAC): A committee at the state level responsible for resolving disputes related to yield data between the insurance company and the State Government.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1440
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025
TECHNOLOGY BASED CROP ASSESSMENT SYSTEM UNDER PMFBY
1440. SHRI JAI PARKASH:
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 insurance claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for
cotton crop produced during the Kharif season of 2023 in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts
of Haryana were assessed through technology based system instead of "Crop Cutting
Experiment" (CCE) despite having no explicit permission for the same under the Operation
Guidelines-2023 and YA-Tech Manual;
(b) if so, the guidelines on the basis of which such decision was taken;
(c) whether the Government has received any complaints from the farmers or farmer
organisations of Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts against the said technical method;
(d) if so, the number of complaints received, status of the settlement thereof and details of
the legal process available to the farmers to appeal against the same; and
(e) the number of farmers and the area of land in hectares against which insurance claim
has been paid for the cotton crop produced during the Kharif season of 2023 in the said
districts along with the details of total insurance claim amount paid thereof, village-wise in
Haryana?
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) envisages use of improved
technology. Accordingly, Government has taken various steps to strengthen
implementation of the scheme, leveraging technology in implementation of the scheme,
capturing of yield data/Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) data through CCE-Agri App for
directly uploading it on the NCIP, allowing insurance companies to witness the conduct of
CCEs, integration of State land records with National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP), roll out
of app for farmers where they can check the status of their applications, enrollment of
farmers through CSCs etc.
In order to bring in more efficiency and transparency in yield assessment as well as
keeping in view various difficulties like increase in number of Crop Cutting Experiments
(CCEs) due to reduction in unit area of insurance to village/village panchayat, shortage of
manpower/infrastructure with States, short window available for conducting of CCEs,
manual data collection and transmission resulting in delay in calculation and settlement of
claims; it has been decided to infuse technology in estimation of yield. Accordingly, basedon the different pilot studies, conducted through Mahalanobis National Crop Forecasting
Centre (MNCFC) under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, it has been
decided to implement YES-TECH (Yield Estimation System Based on Technology) for
gradual migration to Remote-Sensing based yield estimation. Under YESTECH, various
models using various inputs like remote sensing data, soil moisture data etc., have been
developed and implemented. This initiative has been launched for paddy & wheat crops
from Kharif 2023 and for soybean crop from Kharif 2024 wherein 30% weightage to yield
estimation is to be mandatorily be assigned to YES-TECH derived yield. 10 major States
including Haryana have adopted the YES-TECH for implementation in their respective
States. However, cotton is still not included under YESTECH.
Further, as per Clause 19.2 of the Operational Guidelines 2023 of the scheme, any
dispute relating to yield data etc. between the insurance company and State Government
are settled through the State Level Technical Committee (STAC) at first level and Central
Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) at national level on appeal by any of the party to the
dispute.
During Kharif 2023 season, to resolve the yield data dispute relating to cotton crop in
Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri district, the STAC Haryana in its Meeting held on 20 August
2024, decided to obtain Village-wise Technical yield from MNCFC/HARSAC in terms of
Clause 19.5, 19.6 and 19.7 of the Operational Guidelines 2023 of PMFBY, which was
accepted by both the State Government and Insurance company. No further
reference/appeal was made by any party to the CTAC against the orders of the STAC.
(c) & (d): A complaint from a farmers’ organization named “Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha”
was received by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare against the settlement of
Cotton crop claims in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri district using the Technology based Yield
estimates. On the basis of the complaint and as per provisions of scheme guidelines, State
Government has been advised to take necessary action in the matter.
The affected farmers can appeal against the decision of the STAC as per the
Grievance Redressal Mechanism provided in the scheme viz. before State Level
Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC). This committee has 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.
(e): Details of number of farmer applications benefitted, area covered under insurance
claims paid for cotton crop in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts of Haryana during Kharif
2023 season are given below :
District Claim Claims paid to the famers against Number of farmers
Paid Area Insured benefitted (in Nos.)
(Rs. in (In Hectares)
Crs.)
Bhiwani 95.17 35,693.82 25,527
Charkhi Dadri 11.26 6,587.33 5,988
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