Assam farmers receive Rs 531.51 crore under PMFBY from 2020-21 to 2024-25

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Assam farmers have received insurance claims worth Rs 531.51 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) between 2020-21 and 2024-25 (up to Kharif 2024).

However, the farmers of the state are yet to receive Rs 25.61 crore as of June 30, 2025, highlighting ongoing challenges in the timely settlement of agricultural insurance claims in the state. According to data that Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan tabled in the Lok Sabha, a total of over 46.77 lakh applications were enrolled by farmers in Assam over the past five years. Of these, only around 7.46 lakh farmers actually benefitted under the scheme, showing a steep drop in claim conversions, particularly in the 2022-23 and 2024-25 Kharif seasons.

According to the Union minister, while 69 percent of the claims nationally were settled within 30 days of yield reports or crop loss notifications during Kharif 2023 to Kharif 2024, various systemic issues continue to cause delays. Key reasons include delayed submission of yield data, disputes between insurers and state governments, and late payment of state government subsidy shares.

Though delayed payments are now subject to a 12 percent penalty (applicable from Kharif 2024), the persistent backlog raises concerns for Assam’s farming community, especially during uncertain climatic conditions. Stakeholders urge the state and central authorities to streamline coordination and ensure timely delivery of benefits to eligible farmers.

Meanwhile, Assam’s 5,06,452 farmers have insured their crops, covering 451.32 thousand hectares of land under the PMFBY as of July 31, 2025, for the 2025-25 Kharif season. The state government has extended the last date for enrolment in PMFBY for the Kharif season 2025-26 up to August 20, 2025.

Also read: Assam: Insurance of Kharif crop under PMFBY yet to pick up pace

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