The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has made impressive progress in the first season itself. It has provided coverage to more than three crore 66 lakh farmers. <br/><br/>According to Agriculture Ministry, a total area of 388.62 lakh hectares has been covered under the scheme with a sum insured of over one lakh 41 thousand crore rupees. <br/><br/>The Yojana was recast as a new scheme by the government as the two earlier existing insurance schemes were not meeting the full requirements of the farmers for insurance coverage.<br/>Our correspondent reports that the performance in this Kharif season is better despite the fact that there were teething issues to begin with. Many States did the bidding process for selection of the insurance companies for concerned clusters for the first time and consequently, the notification of the scheme was delayed in a number of States. <br/><br/>There has also been a quantum jump of more than six times in the coverage of non-loanee farmers, which shows that the scheme has been well received by the non-loanee segment. Another significant achievement in this season has been 104 per cent enhancement in sum insured.