Parliament Question: Crop Damage due to Floods

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION. NO. 340 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11TH AUGUST, 2026 CROP DAMAGE DUE TO FLOODS *340. Md. ABU TAHER KHAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी

be pleased to state:

(a) the estimated crop loss due to floods and heavy rains in West Bengal in the current year;

(b) the compensation provided to farmers under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

(PMFBY) and the relief provided under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF); and

(c) the steps taken to ensure timely procurement of paddy and MSP and to provide interest free loans to farmers? ANSWER MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.340 REGARDING “CROP DAMAGE DUE TO FLOODS” DUE FOR REPLY ON 11TH AUGUST, 2026

(a) & (b): As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the State Government is primarily responsible for providing necessary relief measures on ground level in the wake of notified calamities. The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural calamities from funds available in the form of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in accordance with the Government of India approved items and norms. Additional financial assistance, over and above SDRF, is considered from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, in case of disaster of ‘severe nature’, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) and a memorandum submitted by the State for financial assistance from NDRF. The financial assistance provided under SDRF and NDRF is by way of relief and not for compensation of losses suffered/ claimed.

The data regarding crop losses due to any disasters is not maintained centrally.

However, as reported by the State Government of West Bengal 494 hectares crop area is affected due to various hydro-meteorological disasters during 2026-27 (as on

02.08.2026).

For the financial year 2026-27, the State Government of West Bengal is allocated an amount of Rs.1326.00 crore (Rs.994.50 crore Central share + Rs.331.50 crore State share) under SDRF. Further, an opening balance of Rs.5321.93 crore has been stated to be available as on 1st April, 2026 by the Accountant General of West Bengal in SDRF account of the State.

Government has introduced yield based Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

(PMFBY) and weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme

(RWBCIS) from Kharif 2016 to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of natural calamities, adverse weather incidence and to stabilize the income of farmers etc.

The Scheme is voluntary for States/UTs as well as farmers. Under the provisions of PMFBY, it is the prerogative of the State Government to notify the districts and crops for implementation of the Scheme. The Government of West Bengal had opted out of the implementation of PMFBY/RWBCIS from Kharif 2019 onwards. However, the State Government has decided to implement PMFBY in the State with effect from Kharif 2026, hence no data available for current season.

(c): State Government agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI) procure wheat and paddy conforming to prescribed FAQ specifications at MSP for Central Pool so as to ensure remunerative prices to farmers and prevent distress sale. However, if farmers get better prices in open market vis-à-vis MSP, they are free to sell their produce outside Government procurement operations. Presence of Government Agencies ensures prevention of distress sale of grains by the farmers. Adequate number of purchase centres are established in order to facilitate procurement and wide publicity is undertaken to inform the farmers.State procurement portals have now been unified into Central Foodgrains Procurement Portal (CFPP) for monitoring and decision making by Central Government Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of MSP has been implemented across the country. DBT eliminates purchase from fictitious bogus farmers, reduces diversion and duplication of payment as payment is made directly to farmer's bank account. States have developed online procurement systems bringing in better efficiency. PCSAP (Procurement Center Smart- Assessment Platform): a data-driven online platform which evaluates grain procurement centres across India on key parameters and aids in improving the facilities present at PCs for farmers, has been implemented in procuring States.

The Government is implementing a 100% centrally funded Central Sector Scheme known as the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) across various States and UTs in pan India. This scheme aims to provide easy and affordable credit to all farmers for meeting their working capital needs of various agriculture and allied sector activities upto a limit of Rs. 3.00 lakh on loan taken through Kisan Credit Card (KCC) at an effective interest rate of 4%.

As on March 31, 2026, the state has 26,65,570 operative KCC accounts with an outstanding amount of Rs.13,758 crores, indicating a strong reliance on institutional credit. Under the saturation campaign since June 2026, West Bengal has received 15,241 fresh KCC applications as on 7th August 2026. Out of these, 14,484 applications have been sanctioned.

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