Wardha: 94,000 farmers enrol in crop insurance scheme, covering 1.85 lakh hectares
Farmer participation in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, which provides financial protection to kharif crops against natural calamity, has risen sharply this year in Wardha district. A total of 94,423 farmers, both loanee and non-loanee, filed 1,75,215 applications in the district. Through this, crops on 1,85,301 hectares have received insurance cover. Farmers together paid a total insurance premium of Rs 1,13,32,010.
Kharif crops always face the risk of heavy damage from excess rainfall, unseasonal rain, long dry spells during the rains, or pest and disease attacks. The crop insurance scheme is considered important for giving farmers financial support in such situations. This is why farmers in the district have taken advantage of the scheme. Farmers bear losses from both natural and man-made crises during the season, adding to their financial burden. The scheme was brought in by the government to provide protection and financial security against such crises.
In 2024, crop insurance was being taken by paying just one rupee, and more than 2 lakh farmers had availed insurance that year. In 2025, this facility was withdrawn and farmers had to pay some amount for insurance, as a result of which the response from farmers was not as strong, and only 58,693 applications came in that year. This year, with a cut in the premium amount, 94,423 farmers have filed 1,75,215 applications, giving insurance cover to 1,85,301 hectares of farmland. Farmers have deposited Rs 1,13,32,010 with the insurance company. This shows a clear increase in farmer participation in the crop insurance scheme this time.
District Superintendent Arvind Uparikar said on this, "For the kharif and rabi seasons, if natural calamity or conditions adverse to crop output occur during the period from sowing to harvesting, compensation for loss will be given at the end of the season based on crop cutting experiments, taking into account the shortfall in the fixed crop yield for the revenue circle."
Taluka-wise, Hinganghat taluka recorded the highest participation with 37,198 farmers taking crop insurance. In Deoli taluka, 24,566 farmers took insurance, followed by 20,521 in Wardha taluka, 20,180 in Selu taluka, 15,087 in Karanja taluka, 16,212 in Arvi taluka, 9,335 in Ashti taluka and 32,116 in Samudrapur taluka. With 94,423 farmers joining the crop insurance scheme this year, crops on 1,85,301 hectares have received insurance cover.
