SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Wednesday directed departments, banks and other stakeholders to ensure universal coverage of all eligible farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), while reviewing the implementation of crop insurance schemes across Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a meeting of the State Level Coordination Committee on Crop Insurance (SLCCCI), Dulloo stressed the need to enrol all eligible beneficiaries reflected on the Kisan Rin (KRIN) Portal in accordance with Government of India guidelines. He also directed banks to reach out to Kisan Credit Card (KCC) holders and facilitate their enrolment under the scheme.
The Chief Secretary called for the use of the ongoing ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ to raise awareness among farmers about the benefits of crop insurance and encourage wider participation. He further directed the Agriculture Production Department to appoint district-wise nodal officers to coordinate with banks, insurance companies and district administrations for the smooth implementation of PMFBY.
During the meeting, officials informed the committee that more than 12.89 lakh farmers have been covered under PMFBY in Jammu and Kashmir since its launch, while over 6.85 lakh farmers have received claim settlements.
A cumulative area of more than 4.05 lakh hectares has been insured under the scheme up to the Rabi 2025 season. Against a total premium collection of Rs 463.37 crore, claims worth Rs 220.35 crore have been settled in favour of farmers affected by crop losses.
The meeting was informed that claims amounting to Rs 53.58 crore have been submitted under Kharif 2025, covering around 1.27 lakh farmers across the Union Territory. Nearly 2.01 lakh farmers were enrolled under PMFBY during the season, covering more than 75,000 hectares of agricultural land.
Officials also reported that more than 2,100 loss intimations have been received under localised calamity and post-harvest loss categories during Rabi 2025-26, involving claims exceeding Rs 5.52 crore. The Agriculture Production Department is coordinating with stakeholders to ensure timely processing and settlement of eligible claims.
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Dr Ashish Chandra Verma, presented a detailed review of the scheme’s performance, including the status of Kharif 2025 claims, Rabi 2025-26 coverage and implementation of the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS).
The meeting was also informed that Jammu and Kashmir has recorded significant growth in farmer enrolment and insured area coverage during Rabi 2025-26 compared with the previous season, placing the Union Territory among the best-performing regions in terms of enrolment growth.
Reviewing preparations for the upcoming crop insurance cycle, the Chief Secretary directed the Agriculture Production Department to complete all necessary measures for the timely implementation of PMFBY and RWBCIS in line with evolving Government of India guidelines and policy frameworks.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to protecting farmers against crop losses caused by natural calamities and adverse weather conditions, Dulloo stressed the need for coordinated efforts to strengthen crop insurance coverage and improve income security for the farming community across Jammu and Kashmir.
