On March 18, 2025, during the Lok Sabha session’s Question Hour, several important agricultural initiatives were discussed, including the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), the Per Drop More Crop Scheme, and the Digital Agriculture Mission.
The discussions focused on the impact, implementation, and future roadmap of these initiatives for India’s agricultural growth.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
Queries were raised regarding the premium paid by farmers and the compensation provided. In response, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ji, shared key insights into the scheme’s impact:
- ₹32,475 crore premium collected from farmers.
- 19.59 crore farmer applications received.
- ₹1,72,318 crore compensation paid—nearly five times the premium collected.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) & Per Drop More Crop Scheme
The session also highlighted the government’s efforts to improve irrigation and water conservation through the PMKSY and Per Drop More Crop Scheme.
- In water-scarce districts, rainwater harvesting and community water storage were promoted under PMKSY. The government provides a 55% subsidy to small farmers and a 45% subsidy to other farmers.
- Per Drop More Crop Initiative: Around 9.7 million hectares have been covered under micro-irrigation, maximizing water efficiency. The introduction of drip irrigation and sprinkler systems has resulted in 70% more water savings compared to traditional methods.
Digital Agriculture Mission & Agri Stack
The Honourable Agriculture Minister emphasized that a digital agriculture revolution is currently underway in India.
- A Digital Farmer ID is being created to help farmers seamlessly access government schemes without the need for paperwork.
- Crop loans, compensation, and farm produce sales will be streamlined through digital verification.
- FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) and Krishi Sakhis will assist farmers in remote areas with registration.
There was also a discussion on whether tenant farmers and farm laborers would be included in the Agri Stack Farmer Registry. Initially, only land-owning farmers were included in the registry. However, state governments have been requested to gradually include tenant farmers and farm laborers. The central government will provide full support to states in implementing this inclusion.
