“Uttar Pradesh farmers gain access to a revamped crop insurance scheme under PMFBY for Kharif 2025, offering affordable premiums and timely payouts. The initiative aims to protect against crop losses due to natural calamities, ensuring financial stability for millions of farmers.”
Uttar Pradesh Unveils Enhanced Crop Insurance for Farmers
In a significant move to bolster agricultural resilience, the Uttar Pradesh government has rolled out a new crop insurance scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for the Kharif 2025 season. Announced on July 1, 2025, the scheme targets over 2 crore farmers across the state, providing a financial safety net against crop failures caused by natural disasters, pests, or diseases. The initiative comes as a response to growing concerns over climate unpredictability and farmer distress, with the state aiming to streamline claim settlements and enhance transparency.
The new scheme offers subsidized premiums, with farmers paying just 2% of the sum assured for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops, and 5% for commercial or horticultural crops. This is a significant relief compared to earlier schemes, where premium costs often deterred participation. The state has also mandated the use of technology-driven yield estimation tools, such as Yes-Tech, to ensure accurate assessments of crop losses. This move is expected to reduce delays in claim payouts, a persistent issue under previous insurance frameworks. According to government data, PMFBY has already insured over 23 crore farmers nationwide, disbursing claims worth Rs 1.75 lakh crore since its inception in 2016.
In Uttar Pradesh, the scheme will cover major Kharif crops like paddy, maize, pulses, and oilseeds. Farmers can register through Common Service Centres (CSCs), banks, or online portals until July 31, 2025, to avail benefits. The government has partnered with the Agriculture Insurance Company of India to facilitate smooth implementation. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized the scheme’s focus on farmer welfare, stating that escrow accounts will be established to ensure timely fund allocation for claims. This aligns with the central government’s directive to states for Kharif 2025, aiming to minimize delays that have plagued farmers in the past.
The initiative also addresses concerns raised by farmers’ associations about fraudulent claims and inadequate compensation. Stringent measures, including criminal action and a five-year ban on government subsidies for those filing bogus claims, have been introduced to enhance accountability. In 2024-25, PMFBY enrolled 41 million farmers across India, covering 61.7 million hectares, with Uttar Pradesh being a key contributor. The state government has allocated Rs 1,200 crore for the scheme, with expectations of saving Rs 500 crore through efficient management and tech integration.
Farmer leaders have welcomed the scheme but urged for greater awareness campaigns to ensure small and marginal farmers, who form 80% of UP’s agricultural workforce, can easily enroll. The state has launched a week-long campaign from July 1 to July 7, 2025, to promote PMFBY, with mobile vans and extension officers reaching out to rural areas. This follows the success of similar campaigns in Jammu, where awareness drives significantly boosted enrollment. With monsoon covering all of India nine days ahead of schedule, the timing of this scheme is critical for UP farmers facing unpredictable weather patterns.
Disclaimer: This news report is based on information sourced from government announcements, official statements, and reliable media reports. All India Press strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information but advises readers to verify details with official sources for critical decisions.