Gomati district (in Tripura) is very vulnerable to weather conditions, being prone to floods in certain low lying areas and a shortage of water in certain upper areas. The number of non-loanee farmers in the Gomati District is approximately 97 % and the main crop for both seasons, Kharif and Rabi, is paddy. The cycle of certain loss of paddy crop is not a regular phenomenon, however, the fear of same remains in farmers mind due to the risk of flood and drought.
BACKGROUND/ INITIATIVES UNDERTAKEN
Financial Institutions uploaded timely information about insured farmers on Cr op Insurance Portal Bank accounts through MGNREGA & Jan Dhan Bank were used for PMFBY Farmer’s Clubs, SHGs, etc. were also involved for effective implementation of PMFBY Special emphasis was given on Autonomous District Council (ADC) areas by involving tools of Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) programme.
For publicity and creating awareness, leaflets, pamphlets and brochures in local language were distributed m-Kisan State portal was used for publicity of PMFBY in the district.
The Scheme got mass publicity through block/Gram Panchayat level programme ‘Krishi Prajukti Jaan’.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS/ IMPACT
KHARIF 2016
182 farmers were insured under the Scheme, of which 54% are non-loanee farmers Total coverage of insured area is 76 Ha., out of total cropped area of 21,257 Ha.
RABI 2016 3964 farmers were insured under the Scheme, of which 97% are non-loanee farmers Total coverage of insured area is 622 Ha., out of total cropped area of 18,782 Ha.
Lush green paddy fields with lawn-like texture, somnolent cows gazing languidly into nowhere, birds nesting on the banks of a waterbody – these form the backdrop for Imanuel Jamatia lovingly tending his paddy yield in Kowaimura village.
This is a small village in Killa Block, about 12 km from Udaipur town in the Gomati district of Tripura, with a population of approximately 41,300, of which 98% are from the Scheduled Tribes. Agriculture and horticulture are the principal sources of occupation and income.
Rice is the main food grain crop. ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ (PMFBY) was introduced by the Government in February 2016 to help farmers insure their crops at a very low premium.
“This insurance is very important to us because we are cultivating hybrid paddy which is extremely prone to pests and diseases,” Jamatia says.
He is among the 653 farmers of Killa Block, who have been insured under this Scheme. “Now I can peacefully sleep at night knowing that if any untoward incident occurs, I will be able to get compensation within a short span of one month because everything is computer-connected,” he says cheerfully.
Moreover, his compensation amount will directly be transferred to his bank account as per Scheme guidelines.
Now, Jamatia is an evangelist for PMFBY and motivates fellow farmers to avail the bene_ts of this Scheme and get their crops insured.
(Collected from ‘Book on Success stories released by Hon’ble PM on CSD,2017)
