The Modi government’s initiative is proving to be a real blessing for farmers in Maharashtra. With changing weather patterns wreaking havoc on crops, the government steps in with crop insurance to help out. Shreyas Tukaram, a farmer from the region, had his five-acre onion field insured. Just before the state elections in November, he received a payout of Rs 60,000 for his crop loss. He feels that taking the risk of insuring his crops has really paid off.
Shreyas shared that unexpected rains last April ruined his nearly ready crop. While the compensation didn’t fully cover his losses, it did help with the sowing costs. With the unpredictable weather and rising pest issues, crop insurance has become a vital safety net for onion farmers like him. He noted that more farmers in his area are opting for insurance, especially since the premium is just Rs 1, and based on his experience, the compensation is pretty good.
Farmers are feeling more confident
Eknath Shinde, another farmer from Naigaon, Maharashtra, mentioned that having insurance is a solid support for dealing with crop losses. Farmers are gradually warming up to the idea. The state agriculture department has noticed a consistent rise in the number of onion farmers getting their fields insured under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Government statistics show that over 7.43 lakh hectares of onion crops were insured in Maharashtra for the 2024-25 season. Just five years ago, in 2019-20, that figure was only 45,000 hectares.
Why is insurance coverage on the rise?
Officials from the agriculture department point out that the decision to set a low premium is a key factor behind this notable increase. Starting in 2023, farmers in Maharashtra only need to pay a premium of Rs 1, which has led to a larger area being insured in the state.
Previously, the premiums were quite high, but once they were lowered, there was a huge surge in farmers opting for insurance. Additionally, farmers are facing more unpredictability due to climate change, which has led to erratic rainfall and frequent heavy downpours. This situation has encouraged more farmers to embrace the crop insurance program.
Maharashtra is the top onion-producing state in India, accounting for over 34 percent of the country’s total onion output. The main onion-growing regions, particularly in the Nashik division, have experienced excessive rainfall in four out of the last five seasons.
The heavy rains at the end of the monsoon season have harmed the Kharif crops, and the intense summer rains in 2023 have also affected the Rabi crops, leaving farmers reliant on crop insurance for support.