Madhya Pradesh Mausam Aadharit Fasal Bima Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Madhya Pradesh Mausam Aadharit Fasal Bima Yojana, officially known as the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS), is implemented in Madhya Pradesh under the umbrella of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). It is administered by the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing, Government of Madhya Pradesh. Launched on 4 July 2016, the scheme was designed specifically to protect horticulture farmers from financial losses caused by adverse weather conditions that affect crop growth and yield.

Unlike traditional yield-based insurance (which relies on crop-cutting experiments), RWBCIS uses a weather-index approach. Claims are triggered when recorded weather parameters- such as deficit or excess rainfall, high or low temperatures, humidity levels, wind speed, dry spells, or a combination of these - deviate beyond predefined thresholds at notified Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) or Automatic Rain Gauges (ARG). This makes the process faster, more transparent, and less dependent on individual field assessments.

In Madhya Pradesh, the scheme covers 51 districts organised into five clusters. It focuses on high-value horticultural and commercial crops that are particularly sensitive to weather fluctuations. For the Kharif season, the notified crops typically include brinjal (eggplant), onion, tomato, banana, papaya, chilli, and orange (santra). For the Rabi season, the list includes potato, tomato, brinjal, onion, cabbage, green peas, coriander, garlic, mango, grapes, and pomegranate. Exact crop lists and sum insured amounts are notified season-wise by the State Level Coordination Committee on Crop Insurance (SLCCCI).

Farmers pay only 5% of the sum insured as premium (or the actual actuarial rate, whichever is lower). The remaining premium is shared equally (50:50) between the Central Government and the Madhya Pradesh Government. In some cases involving irrigated areas or higher premium rates, the state may bear any additional share beyond a certain limit. The scheme is voluntary for non-loanee farmers and optional for loanee farmers (who can opt out by giving written notice to their bank at least seven days before the cut-off date).

The implementation of RWBCIS in Madhya Pradesh is governed by the applicable PMFBY/RWBCIS operational guidelines and season-wise notifications issued by the competent authorities. The notified crops, insured areas, weather parameters, reference weather stations, sum insured, and other scheme provisions may vary from one season to another. Farmers should therefore check the latest official season notification before applying or enrolling under the scheme.

Scheme Benefits

• Timely financial protection against weather-induced losses without the need for individual crop-loss surveys.
• Low premium burden on farmers (only 5% of sum insured).
• Coverage for both loanee and non-loanee farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers.
• Transparent claim settlement based on objective weather data from notified stations.
• Support for high-value horticultural crops that are critical to farmers' livelihoods in the state.
• Contribution to income stability and continued engagement in horticulture farming.

Eligibility Requirements

To avail the benefits of this scheme, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

• The applicant must be a farmer (including sharecroppers and tenant cultivators).
• Must be a resident of Madhya Pradesh.
• Must grow a notified crop in a notified area during the relevant season (Kharif or Rabi).
• Both loanee farmers (those who have taken crop loans) and non-loanee farmers are eligible.
• Loanee farmers can opt out by informing their bank in writing at least seven days before the cut-off date.

Required Documents

For non-loanee farmers, the commonly required documents include:

• Aadhaar card copy
• Latest land records (Khasra / Khatauni)
• Bank passbook or cancelled cheque
• Crop sowing certificate issued or verified by Agriculture or Revenue Department officials
• Affidavit of land sharing (in case of sharecroppers/tenants)
• Identity and residence proof as required
• Loanee farmers generally complete the process through their bank branch with minimal additional paperwork.

Steps to Apply

• Visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC), bank branch, or authorised insurance company agent.
• Confirm that the crop and area are notified for the current season.
• Submit the required documents and pay the farmer's share of the premium.
• Obtain the acknowledgment/policy details.
• Adhere to the season-specific cut-off dates (traditionally before 15 July for Kharif and 15 December for Rabi; always check the latest notification as extensions are sometimes granted).
• There is no application fee. Enrolment can also be facilitated through authorised channels linked to the PMFBY portal.

Relevant Links

• Madhya Pradesh Mausam Aadharit Fasal Bima Yojana Details
• Department of Horticulture and Food Processing, MP Portal

Contact Information

• Department of Horticulture and Food Processing, MP Helpdesk: [email protected]