The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham has formally asked the state government to push back the premium‑payment deadline for the Weather‑Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) for cotton, groundnut and tomato from 15 July 2026 to 31 July 2026. The association also seeks a return to free crop‑insurance for all crops in the 2026‑27 Kharif‑Rabi seasons.
Key Developments
- Extension of the premium‑payment deadline for cotton, groundnut and tomato to align with the deadline of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) (31 July 2026).
- Demand for free crop‑insurance for all crops during the current agricultural year, citing benefits of the previous government’s scheme.
- Request to reduce the farmer’s premium contribution from ₹2,000 per acre to a maximum of ₹500 per acre, citing unaffordability for drought‑hit farmers.
Important Facts
Crop coverage and regions
The crops in question are heavily cultivated in the Rayalaseema districts. In Kurnool alone, about four lakh acres of cotton are under cultivation.
Premium details
Under the current WBCIS, farmers must pay a premium contribution of ₹2,000 per acre. The Sangham argues that this amount is prohibitive, especially for those affected by recent droughts, and urges the government to cap it at ₹500 per acre.
Exam Relevance
This issue touches upon several UPSC topics: agricultural insurance mechanisms (GS3), state‑centre coordination in implementing central schemes (GS2), fiscal burden on marginal farmers (GS3), and regional disparities in agrarian economies (GS1/GS4). Understanding the interplay between the WBCIS and PMFBY helps aspirants analyse policy coherence and implementation challenges.
Way Forward
For a balanced solution, the state could:
- Synchronise the WBCIS deadline with PMFBY to avoid confusion among farmers.
- Introduce a tiered premium structure where drought‑prone areas receive higher subsidies.
- Maintain free insurance for staple crops while offering subsidised rates for commercial crops like cotton.
- Set up a monitoring committee comprising farmer representatives, agriculture officials and economists to review the scheme’s impact each season.
Such steps would address farmer distress, ensure policy alignment, and provide a case study for UPSC answers on agricultural reforms.