India, May 27 -- Experts have debated whether YES-TECH can become a reliable alternative to manual crop cutting experiments for estimating crop losses under PMFBY.

The technology-based system could make yield estimation faster and more transparent, but accuracy and farmer trust remain key concerns.

A CSE report on Madhya Pradesh found dissatisfaction among some soybean farmers over claim settlements after YES-TECH was adopted for selected crops.

Panellists said manual crop cutting experiments are cumbersome and prone to inconsistencies, but warned that technology-based estimates must be independently assessed and improved.

Experts said accurate yield estimation is essential for crop insurance to function as a meaningful safety net for...