Central government scheme · Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Also called PMFBY
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare). It is for farmers, including tenant farmers and sharecroppers, growing crops notified by the state government in notified areas. Eligible farmers get low-premium crop insurance that pays when notified crops are lost to drought, flood, cyclone, hail, pests, disease and other natural risks. To apply, farmers with a crop loan are enrolled through their bank, while those without a crop loan can enrol before the season's cut-off date on the National Crop Insurance Portal or through an insurance intermediary.
Written by AI from the official details below.
Who can apply for PMFBY
- Farmers, including tenant farmers and sharecroppers, growing crops notified by the state government in notified areas.
- You need an insurable interest: valid land documents, a tenancy agreement or a sowing certificate, as your state requires.
- Farmers with a seasonal crop loan or standard Kisan Credit Card loan are enrolled through their bank.
- Farmers without a crop loan can join voluntarily.
- You must apply before the cut-off date for the season.
- Only available in states and union territories that have chosen to run the scheme that season.
PMFBY benefits
- Farmer pays at most 2% of the sum insured for Kharif food and oilseed crops, 1.5% for Rabi food and oilseed crops, and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops.
- The rest of the premium is paid by the central and state governments (50:50; 90:10 in North-Eastern and Himalayan states).
- Pays for yield loss on standing crops from drought, dry spells, flood, inundation, cyclone, hail, lightning, pests and diseases.
- If bad weather stops sowing, claims of up to 25% of the sum insured.
- Covers crops left to dry in the field for up to 14 days after harvest against cyclone and unseasonal rain.
- Covers individual farm losses from hail, landslide, inundation, cloudburst and natural fire. From Kharif 2026, wild animal attack and paddy inundation are added as localised risks.
- Claims are paid directly into the farmer's bank account.
How to apply for PMFBY
- If you have a crop loan or KCC, your bank enrols you and deducts the premium from the loan.
- If you have no crop loan, enrol before the season's cut-off date on the National Crop Insurance Portal or through an insurance intermediary.
- Pay your share of the premium and keep the policy receipt.
- Report localised losses quickly; wild animal damage must be reported within 72 hours on the Crop Insurance App with geotagged photos.
- For complaints or claim status, call the Krishi Rakshak helpline 14447.
Documents needed for PMFBY
- Land record, tenancy agreement or sowing certificate as required by your state
- Bank account details
Where it applies
Runs in the states and union territories that join it for each crop season; 25 did for Kharif 2026.
Checked
Checked against the sources below on 16 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm on the official site before you apply.
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Affordable crop insurance for every farmer (29 Aug 2026) · Press Information Bureau
- Wild animal attack recognised as localised risk; paddy inundation reintroduced (18 Nov 2025) · Press Information Bureau
- PMFBY provides comprehensive crop insurance; states allowed add-on cover for wild animal damage (3 Feb 2026) · Press Information Bureau
- Empowering Annadatas: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana · Press Information Bureau
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