(a) the steps being taken by the Government to prevent and check damage to crops by wild/stray animals; and
(b) the mechanism to compensate the farmers for crop damage from such animals and the amount of compensation provided to the farmers under the same during the last three years?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a): Government has taken various steps to prevent and check damage to crops by wild/stray animals in the country as follows:
(1) Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) through its Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) namely `Project Tiger'', ''Project Elephant'' and ''Development of Wildlife Habitats (DWH)’ provides funds to States and UTs for carrying various activities for habitat improvement works viz., restoration of natural water bodies, creation of artificial ponds, waterholes, augmenting food/fodder sources at various places within Protected Areas to minimize the crop damage.
(2) The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has approved a project for undertaking ''Immuno¬-contraceptive measures'' for population management of wild animals.
(3) Construction/erecting of physical barriers, such as barbed wire fence, solar powered electric fence, bio-fencing using cactus, boundary wall etc. to prevent the entry of wild animals into crop field.
Besides, State Governments take steps to mitigate the crop damage by wild animals under their schemes.
(b): The quantum loss of crops destroyed by Stray and wild animals are managed by concerned State/Union Territories. The assistance under the scheme includes compensation for crop damage by wild /stray animals as per cost norms prescribed by State/ UTs Governments. The compensation paid by the states as reported time to time is given at annexure-I.
Further, Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare under the revised guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from Rabi 2018-19, states have been given liberty to consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever the risk is perceived to be substantial and identifiable.