Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme: Objectives, Eligibility & Application Process

Source: skyweather.com

India is a country with agriculture as the primary occupation. To support the farmers financially, the Indian Government introduced the Comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme (CCIS) with effect from Kharif 1985.

The Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) was implemented to enlarge the CCIS coverage. It provides financial protection against anticipated crop loss due to unsuitable weather incidences.

WBCIS was launched in 20 states in 2007 (Kharif/Rabi) to mitigate the anticipated crop loss due to adverse weather incidences. This scheme covers the losses in Kharif crop yield due to extreme rainfall conditions, both deficit and excess. It also provides financial assistance against unsuitable weather conditions during Rabi. 

WBCIS focuses on compensating for crop losses due to the following weather perils to curb any financial hardship of the insured farmers:tTemperature – high (heat) and low temperatures, relative humidity, rainfall - excess, deficit, unseasonal, dry spell, rainy days and dry days, and wind speed.

Note: Farmers who opted for basic coverage under WBCIS can elevate their insurance scheme by including hailstorm and cloud bust Add-on/Index-Plus products.

The payment structure is prepared based on the extent of losses triggered by unfavourable weather conditions.

The eligibility criteria to obtain the insurance benefit of Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme includes-

Eligible Farmers Under the Scheme

• Farmers, including tenant cultivators and sharecroppers cultivating crops in the specified area, are eligible.

Note: The insurable interest for the insured crop is mandatory for farmers.

• Farmers opting for Seasonal Agricultural Operations (SAO) loans from any Financial Organisations (loanee farmers) for the notified crops are covered mandatorily.

WBCIS provides additional benefits to SC/ST Women farmers. However, for non-loanee farmers, WBCIS is optional. 

Eligible Crops Under the Scheme

Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) covers crop varieties, including-

• Food crops like cereals, pulses and millets
• Oilseeds
• Commercial or horticulture crops

State Level Coordination Committee on Crop Insurance (SLCCCI) selects the areas and crops based on factors such as-

• Availability of past weather reports
• Minimum cropped area
• Potential weather perils

The area and crop selection process includes-

• Meetings organised by the State Government with insurance providers and specialists from Agro-meteorology from State Agriculture Universities and Research Institutes
• The Government constitutes a Technical Committee that performs the following tasks-
  • Weather triggers, crop and area selection
  • Evaluation of proposals provided by the Insurance Company
  • Term-sheets approval of the proposed crop or area as per the illustrated correlation between past weather and yield reports
  • Demonstration of products and benefits to the farmers are based on WBCIS guidelines.

Additionally, WBCIS operates on the “Area Approach” principle in selected notified areas. Therefore, the State Government only declares the smallest areas as insurance units like the Village Panchayat, Mandal, Hobli, Revenue Circle, Block and Tehsil.

Cultivators can apply for WBCIS by following the steps given below.

• Step 1: Visit the official website of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• Step 2: Click on ‘Farmer Corner’ option.
• Step 3: Press ’Guest Farmer’ option to proceed further. Otherwise, log in with your mobile number.
• Step 4: Fill up the fields with personal and residential details, farmer ID and account details then, enter the captcha code ad click on ‘Create User’.

To check the beneficiary list of the Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme in 2022, click on Application Status and enter receipt number, captcha code and click on ‘Check Status’ option.

Insured farmers can raise claims against WBCIS directly on the official website of PMFBY, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Department in the following steps.

• Step 1: Visit the official website of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• Step 2: Click on ‘Report Crop Loss’ option.

It will redirect to the page, including the insurance companies’ names and contact details like toll-free numbers, email IDs, and addresses.

Alternatively, farmers can download the Crop Insurance App to report crop loss hassle-free.

Note: The claim verification and settlement are automated processes. It credits the claimed amount to the insured farmer’s bank account. 

The non-loanee farmers need to submit the following documents to utilise the benefit of WBCIS.

• Records of Right (RoR)
• Required contract documents
• Land Possession Certificate (LPC)
• Documents with agreement details

The concerned State Government may ask for additional documents from sharecroppers and tenant farmers.