Relevance: GS Prelims Agriculture | Government Schemes
About YES-TECH?
- YES-TECH (Yield Estimation System based on Technology) is a technology-driven initiative launched under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to improve the accuracy and transparency of crop yield estimation.
- It uses remote sensing technology, satellite imagery, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and field-level data for scientific assessment of crop yields.
- The system aims to reduce dependence on traditional Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) and provide faster, reliable, and technology-based yield estimation.
- YES-TECH enables objective assessment of crop losses, ensuring timely and accurate insurance claim settlement for farmers.
- YES-TECH has been developed and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under PMFBY.
How does YES-TECH work?
- YES-TECH integrates multiple sources of data, including:
- Satellite-based remote sensing data.
- Weather information.
- Crop health indicators.
- Ground-level field observations.
- Historical yield data.
- Advanced analytical tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are used to analyse crop conditions and estimate yields.
- The technology helps in generating spatial and temporal crop yield estimates at different administrative levels.
Role in Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
- Under PMFBY, crop yield estimation is crucial for determining insurance claims.
- Traditionally, yield estimation depended mainly on Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs), which are time-consuming and involve manual intervention.
- YES-TECH strengthens PMFBY by:
- Improving accuracy of yield estimation.
- Reducing delays in claim settlement.
- Increasing transparency in the crop insurance process.
- Minimising human errors and subjectivity.
Conclusion
YES-TECH represents a major step towards the digital transformation of crop insurance in India. By integrating satellite technology, AI, and data analytics with PMFBY, it can improve the accuracy of yield estimation, ensure faster claim settlement, and strengthen climate-resilient agriculture.
| This concept has been covered in article Rollout of Weather Information Network Data System (WINDS) |