How to Apply for Crop Insurance in Kerala

Natural calamities in the state can result in crop losses, so the state implements crop insurance to protect farmers. The state’s farmers constantly struggle with changing climatic conditions. In the opinion of some farmers, the government’s assistance for the crop is meager. In the state, most farmers rely on bank loans and local money lenders to sustain their agricultural activities.

Currently, 13,604 farmers in Kerala are covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, 51,658 under the Weather-Based Insurance Scheme, and 29 lakhs under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana. Two lakh farmers are registered under the state crop insurance scheme, and 19 lahks are members of Krishi Bhavan’s farmer’s register. Meanwhile, reports indicate that approximately 12 lakh farmers still do not have insurance coverage.

How to Apply for Crop Insurance in Kerala

Current Status of Agriculture in Kerala and How State Government Supports and Implements Crop Insurance Schemes

The lower crop insurance coverage in Kerala is quite interesting when viewed in the context of Kerala’s agriculture. Over one-third of the farmers in Kerala’s SP still engage in agricultural and related activities, even though the agricultural share has declined. Kerala farmers also exhibit an aversion to newer crop insurance schemes, such as MNAIS, PMFBY, etc., that claim to be more farmer-friendly.

Kerala’s agriculture is less mechanized than that of all other states in India. Agriculture in the state is heavily dependent on nature. Land holdings in the state are also small. Despite these characteristics, Kerala’s lukewarm response to agricultural insurance is still quite interesting. Moreover, crop insurance schemes are mandatory for farmers taking short-term crop loans in India (loanee farmers). However, it is voluntary for all other farmers (non-loanees).

Loanee farmers’ premiums are deducted from their loan amounts, and any claims are adjusted against the loan amount. If crop loss is recognized, non-loanee farmers receive the claim amount from their pockets. Kerala’s agricultural performance is poor, but the number of loans taken out for agricultural purposes is quite high.

There is a lack of crop insurance coverage despite the high incidence of agriculture loans in Kerala, which makes the situation even more striking. As indicated by the state for the season, the State Government will invite the impaneled insurance companies to quote their actuarial premium rates for the notified crop(s) in the notified insurance unit area, Indemnity Level, Yield Threshold, Sum Insured, etc.

Objectives of Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana

To provide insurance coverage and financial assistance to farmers in the region
Failures of notified crops due to natural catastrophes, pests, and diseases
For farmers to continue farming, their incomes need to be stabilized.
Incentives to encourage farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices
Credit must be made available to agriculture.

In case you missed it: How to Apply for Crop Insurance in Telangana

How to Apply Online for Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana

Start by visiting the official Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana website
You have to first create an account on the official website before applying online.
To create an account online, click the registration option and fill out all the required information.
Once you enter the correct information and click the submit button on the official website, you can create an account.
The application form for the Fasal Bima Yojana must be filled out online by logging into the official website after you create an account.
Please click the submit button after you have filled out the Fasal Bima Yojana application form correctly.
Your screen will display a message indicating that your registration was successful.

How to Apply Offline for Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana

The first thing you should do is visit the nearest insurance company.
Receive an application form from the agriculture department for the Fasal Bima Yojana.
Fill out all the information in the application form correctly, including your name, mobile number, email address, etc.
Please attach all your documents related to the Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana here
Please submit this application form to the agriculture department; after that
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana premium fee needs to be paid here.
You will then be given a reference number that needs to be kept in a safe place.
Your Pradhanmantri fasal bima Yojana application status can be checked with this reference number.

Farmers Can Check Their Crop Insurance Status by the Following Process

First, you must visit the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana official website.
You can access the beneficiary list on the homepage by clicking on it.
You will now see a new window where you must choose your state.
The next step is to select your district and your block.
The beneficiaries list will appear as soon as you select a block.
In this beneficiary list, you can see your name.

PM Fasal Bima Yojana Eligibility Criteria

If you are an Indian farmer, you can apply online for the PM fasal bima yojana.
When working on a lease, you can take advantage of PM fasal bima yojana, whether farming your field or other fields.
Those taking advantage of any insurance plan before then cannot apply for it under PM fasal bima yojana.

Required Documents for Applying Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana

Farmer ID card
Ration Card
Aadhar card
Bank passbook
Driving license
Passport
Voter ID card
Field account number
Field khasra number paper
Applicant passport size photo
Crop initial date

In case you missed it: How to Apply for Crop Insurance in Madhya Pradesh

Current Kerala State Crop Insurance Status-District Wise

District	Applications	Approved	Processing / Pending
Alappuzha	13,279	7,486	391
Ernakulam	10,622	7,110	333
Idukki	3,457	2,515	60
Kannur	7,864	5,142	173
Kasargod	3,496	1,957	180
Kollam	5,396	3,902	61
Kottayam	7,848	5,183	149
Kozhikode	8,226	5,602	129
Malappuram	40,002	29,953	766
Palakkad	16,175	7,486	1,890
Pathanamthitta	11,931	9,997	196
Thiruvananthapuram	7,404	5,637	137
Thrissur	32,776	21,639	646
Wayanad	9,639	4,582	54

Conclusion

Compared to other states in India, the participation in these schemes in Kerala is very low. Unless the program is restructured carefully to make it viable, the prospects of its future expansion to include and impact more farmers are remote. This requires renewed efforts by the government to design appropriate mechanisms and provide financial support for agricultural insurance. Providing similar help to private sector insurers would help increase insurance coverage and improve the insurance scheme’s viability over time.

How to Apply for Crop Insurance in Kerala