‘Ambia Bahar Fruit Crop Insurance Scheme’: A Boon for Farmers

The revised climate-based ‘Fruit Crop Insurance Scheme’ for Ambia Bahar year 2024-25 is being implemented across 30 districts and covers 9 fruit crops, including Pomegranate, Orange, Mangosteen, Cashew, Banana, Grape, Mango, Papaya, and Strawberry. This article outlines the details of the scheme to ensure that farmers can benefit fully.

Participation in the Biya Bahar Fruit Crop Insurance Scheme is voluntary for both borrower and non-borrower farmers of the notified crops in the designated areas. Farmers must inform the bank, where they hold a crop loan or Kisan Credit Card account, about their decision to participate or not. Borrower farmers need to submit a declaration of non-participation at least 7 days before the scheme’s deadline to avoid automatic insurance premium deductions from their loan accounts. Farmers wishing to participate should submit the required declaration form to their bank for the specified crops.

To be eligible, farmers must be growing the notified fruit crops in the designated areas, and leasehold farmers need a registered tenancy agreement. The minimum productive area for participation is 10 guntas (0.10 ha) in the Konkan division and 20 guntas (0.20 ha) in the rest of the state. Farmers can register insurance for up to 4 hectares, covering both Deer and Ambia Bahar. Only productive orchards within specific age limits are eligible for insurance. For instance, the productive age for Mango, Cashew, and Chickpea is 5 years, for Lemon, 4 years, and for Orange, Guava, and Mangosteen, 3 years.

The scheme is managed through companies like Indian Agricultural Insurance Company Ltd., Future Generali India Insurance Company Ltd., Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Ltd., and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Ltd., depending on the district.

Sum insured amounts vary by crop. For example, the sum insured for Grapes is ₹3.80 lakh, while for Oranges, it is ₹1 lakh. The premium rate is generally 5% of the sum insured but may be higher in some districts. The final date for farmers to register varies by crop, with the earliest deadline being 14 October 2024 for Strawberry.

Weather risks such as unseasonal rain, temperature fluctuations, and hail are covered under the scheme. Compensation will be provided to insured farmers based on weather triggers through the insurance company.

To participate in the scheme, farmers can visit the National Crop Insurance Portal at https://pmfby.gov.in. Additionally, for farmers participating in the Ambia Bahar season, the state government has provided insurance cover for hail weather risk (Add-on Cover). Participation in this hail weather risk cover is voluntary, and an additional insurance premium is required. Farmers interested in enrolling for hail weather coverage must pay both the regular and additional premiums through banks only.

Farmers should contact their nearest e-seva center, bank, or financial institution within the prescribed timeframe, after being informed about the weather risks to the notified fruit crops and the applicable insurance premiums. For more details regarding the Ambia Bahar scheme, farmers are encouraged to reach out to the Taluka Office of the respective insurance company or the Agriculture Department office.