OSCB, UCO Bank Win National Awards for PMFBY Implementation

Bhubaneswar: The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, has conferred national-level recognition on the Odisha State Cooperative Bank (OSCB) and UCO Bank, Odisha unit, for their exemplary performance in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) during Kharif 2024 and Rabi 2024–25.

At the 13th National Review Conference of PMFBY held in Bengaluru on January 18–19, OSCB secured the First Prize in the Large State – Cooperative Bank category, while UCO Bank, Odisha—also the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) Convenor—bagged the Third Prize in the SLBC category.

The achievement underscores the banks’ pivotal role in expanding crop insurance coverage across Odisha. During Kharif 2024, out of a total enrolment of 22.41 lakh farmers under PMFBY in the state, OSCB and UCO Bank together facilitated the enrolment of over 15 lakh farmers, covering both loanee and non-loanee categories. Similarly, in the ongoing Rabi 2024–25 season, the two banks have enrolled more than one lakh farmers out of the state’s total enrolment of 1.81 lakh.

The awards were formally handed over today by Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, in the presence of Director, Agriculture & Food Production, Subham Saxena; Additional Director Litty Pattanayak; Joint Secretary, Cooperation Department, Sangram Rout; Chief General Manager, UCO Bank, Gautam Patra; In-Charge SLBC, Lingaraj Nayak; and senior officers of the department, including members of the Crop Insurance team.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Padhee said the recognition reflects the effective implementation of PMFBY in Odisha through strong convergence between the Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department and the Cooperation Department. He highlighted that coordinated efforts and institutional synergy have been key to ensuring wider insurance coverage and timely benefits for farmers.

Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, also expressed his happiness over the achievement and congratulated both departments and the banking institutions for their concerted efforts in strengthening crop insurance outreach in the state.