The full form of WBCIS is Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme

Weather Based Crop Insurance aims to mitigate the hardship of the insured farmers against the likelihood of financial loss on account of anticipated crop loss resulting from incidence of adverse conditions of weather parameters like rainfall, temperature, frost, humidity etc.

Crops covered

• Major Food crops (Cereals, Millets & Pulses) & Oilseeds
• Commercial / Horticultural crops

Farmers covered

All farmers including sharecroppers and tenant farmers growing the notified crops in the notified areas are eligible for coverage. However, farmers should have insurable interest on the insured crop. The non-loanee farmers are required to submit necessary documentary evidence of land records and / or applicable contract / agreements details (in case of sharecroppers / tenant farmers).

All farmers availing Seasonal Agricultural Operations (SAO) loans from Financial Institutions (i.e. loanee farmers) for the crop(s) notified are covered on compulsory basis.

The Scheme is optional for the non-loanee farmers. They can choose between WBCIS and PMFBY, and also the insurance company.

Perils covered

Following major weather perils, which are deemed to cause “Adverse Weather Incidence”, leading to crop loss, shall be covered under the scheme.

• Rainfall – Deficit Rainfall, Excess rainfall, Unseasonal Rainfall, Rainy days, Dry-spell, Dry days
• Relative Humidity
• Temperature – High temperature (heat), Low temperature
• Wind Speed
• A combination of the above
• Hailstorms, cloud-burst may also be covered as Add-on/Index-Plus products for those farmers who have already taken normal coverage under WBCIS.

The perils listed above are only indicative and not exhaustive, any addition deletion may be considered by insurance companies based on availability of relevant data.

The RWBCIS was launched on 18th February 2016 by Hon’ble Prime Minister 12 states implemented the scheme in Kharif 2016 whereas 9 states have implemented the scheme in Rabi 2016-17. Approximately 15 lakhs farmers have been insured in the Kharif 2016 for 16.95 lakh ha of land at premium of Rs983.96 crore for a sum insured of Rs8536.53 crore as per figures available on 31.03.2017.

Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) aims to mitigate the hardship of the insured farmers against the likelihood of financial loss on account of anticipated crop loss resulting from adverse weather conditions relating to rainfall, temperature, wind, humidity etc. WBCIS uses weather parameters as “proxy‟ for crop yields in compensating the cultivators for deemed crop losses. Pay-out structures are developed to the extent of losses deemed to have been suffered using the weather triggers.

Weather Station (RWS) or Backup Weather Station (BWS) as the case may be, and the claims process shall commence once the weather data is received. Claims processing are strictly as per the insurance term sheets, payout structure and the Scheme provisions. All standard Claims are processed and paid within 45 days from the end of the risk period. The scheme is being administered by Ministry of Agriculture.