SHILPAKUMARI SANDEEP2022-01-102022-01-102021-12https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810180556ABSTRACT The present study entitled “Impact of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana on the livelihood of farmers in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh.” was conducted during the year 2020-21. A sample of 120 farmers was selected consisting of 60 beneficiaries and 60 non-beneficiaries by multistage random sampling technique. The selected beneficiaries were further divided into two groups i.e. claim holders and non-claim holders. The progress of PMFBY was good in Himachal Pradesh and Hamirpur district since its implementation in terms of the number of farmers benefitted and claim paid in both seasons i.e. Kharif and Rabi from 2016 to 2020. However, the area covered and farmers insured have shown a decrease in Himachal Pradesh while increase in Hamirpur district from 2016 to 2020. Beneficiaries had a larger average family size (5.40 people) than non-beneficiaries (5.08 persons) and household literacy revealed that 95.84 percent of beneficiaries and 93.47 percent of non-beneficiaries were literate. Agriculture was the main occupation among both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. In both insured and non-insured farmers, cultivated land had the highest share of average landholding, followed by Ghasnis, barren land and land put to non-agriculture use. Cropping intensity among beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries were 185.76 and 173.58 per cent respectively. In the study area, beneficiaries had 1.67 adult cattle units while non-beneficiaries had 1.68 adult cattle units. Farm income in the case of claim holders was Rs. 53522.33 which was higher than non-claim-holder’s income of Rs. 49419.84. Livelihood framework analysis showed that beneficiaries had a better position in social, financial and human assets status than non-beneficiaries. Landholding size, income, awareness and contact with extension agents were key factors that affected the adoption of PMFBY. Overall, 51.10 per cent of beneficiaries and 13.28 per cent non-beneficiaries were significantly aware of PMFBY. PMFBY acts as a safeguard against production losses has shown significant, positive and highest impact on the adoption of the scheme among beneficiaries and perception "Farmers friendly procedure in buying crop insurance" has shown a significant and most positive effect on adoption in non-beneficiaries. The mean willingness to pay of non-beneficiaries was Rs. 649.79, 539.32 and 644.54 per hectare for maize, wheat and paddy respectively which was higher than the existing premium rates in the study area. Contact with extension agents, literacy rate, farmers friendly procedure in buying crop insurance and lack of trustworthiness has shown positive and significant impact on willingness to pay for field crops among non-beneficiaries. Major constraints faced by beneficiaries were lack of awareness regarding scheme, insufficient compensation and delay in claim settlements. Whereas, procedural difficulties in enrolment, lack of contact with agricultural extension agents were key constraints faced by non-beneficiaries. For a better scheme's success, large-scale awareness programmes, timely claim settlement and sufficient compensation should be provided.EnglishThesis