PMFBY Section 11.1: Prevented Sowing / Planting Risk Provision
Agricultural risk is not confined to post-harvest yield shortages; frequently, severe climatic abnormalities make it completely impossible for an entire farming community to sow their fields in the first place. Under Section 11.1 of the PMFBY Revised Operational Guidelines, explicit protection is provided for "Prevented Sowing / Planting / Germination Risk".
Unlike standard yield shortfall claims which require crop cutting experiments (CCEs) conducted at the end of the agricultural season, a Prevented Sowing claim is an early mid-season relief mechanism designed to provide urgent liquidity to farmers who incurred field preparation, land tilling, and seed investment expenses but were unable to sow due to natural disasters.
Statutory Rules and Mandatory Trigger Criteria
- The 75% Area Trigger: A prevented sowing claim cannot be filed on an individual isolated farm basis. It activates only when widespread adverse weather (monsoon deficit >50%, prolonged dry spell, or severe flood inundation) prevents sowing in more than 75% of the total cultivable area of the notified Insurance Unit (IU - typically block, taluk, or village panchayat).
- State Government Official Notification: The State Government must issue an official notification based on Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) rainfall data and satellite remote sensing verification within 15 days of the normal sowing cut-off window.
- Fixed 25% Compensation: The statutory payout is standardized at 25.00% of the Sum Insured. This provides immediate working relief to recover preparatory expenses.
- Policy Termination: Upon disbursement of the 25% prevented sowing claim, the insurance policy for that notified crop and season stands officially cancelled and terminated. No end-of-season yield-loss claim can be lodged.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do individual farmers need to submit physical claim forms?
No. Once the State Government notifies the insurance unit as having suffered >75% prevented sowing, claims are settled on an area approach directly into enrolled farmers' Aadhaar-linked bank accounts via DBT without individual intimation.
Can a farmer resow another crop if conditions improve?
Yes. If late rains allow resowing with an alternate contingency crop (e.g. short-duration pulses or fodder), the farmer retains the 25% prevented sowing relief. However, insurance on the new crop requires a separate enrolment if within the alternate crop notification window.