Is PMFBY compulsory for KCC holders?

Since the 2020 kharif season, PMFBY has been made voluntary for all farmers, including KCC holders. If you don't want insurance, submit a written opt-out declaration to your bank at least 7 days before the enrollment cut-off. However, insurance is strongly recommended — the premium is very low and the protection is significant.

Which crops are covered in my district?

Not all crops are covered everywhere — the state government notifies which crops are insured in each district each season. Check the PMFBY portal → 'Notification' section → select your state and district → view list of notified crops. If your crop is not listed, it's not covered under PMFBY for that season.

My claim was rejected. What can I do?

First check the rejection reason on the PMFBY portal or with the insurance company. Common reasons: enrollment after deadline, crop not notified in your district, loss not due to covered risk, or insufficient documentation. If you believe the rejection is wrong, file a grievance on the PMFBY portal or escalate to the District Level Monitoring Committee (DLMC) headed by the District Collector.

How is the claim amount calculated?

The claim is based on 'area approach' — if the average yield of your crop in your insurance unit (usually a village or group of villages) falls below the threshold yield (based on past 7 years' average), ALL insured farmers in that unit receive compensation. The shortfall percentage is applied to the sum insured. For example, if yield is 40% below threshold, you get 40% of your sum insured.

Does PMFBY cover losses from wild animals?

No. Crop damage by wild animals, birds, or domestic animals is not covered under PMFBY. Only losses from natural calamities (drought, flood, cyclone, hail), pests, and crop diseases are covered.

Active SchemeUpdated: March 2026

🌿

PM Fasal Bima Yojana

Crop insurance at minimal premium — 2% for kharif and 1.5% for rabi crops — protecting farmers against natural calamities, pests, and crop diseases

Kharif Premium

2% of sum insured

Rabi Premium

1.5% of sum insured

Claims Paid

₹1.5+ Lakh Cr

Farmers Covered

4+ Crore/season

📝Apply at Bank/CSC ✅Check Claim Status 📞Helpline: 1800-200-7710

📖What is PM Fasal Bima Yojana?

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a government crop insurance scheme launched on 13 January 2016 to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss due to natural calamities (drought, flood, cyclone, hailstorm), pest attacks, and crop diseases. The scheme replaced the older National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified NAIS with simpler processes and lower premiums.

Under PMFBY, farmers pay a nominal premium — just 2% of the sum insured for kharif (monsoon) crops, 1.5% for rabi (winter) crops, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops. The remaining premium is shared between the central and state governments. The actual premium can be 15-25% of the sum insured — the farmer pays only their small portion.

PMFBY covers loss of yield due to: non-preventable natural risks (drought, dry spells, flood, inundation, cyclone, typhoon, tempest, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, volcanic eruption), pest and disease attacks, post-harvest losses due to cyclone and unseasonal rain (up to 14 days after harvest), and localized calamities (hailstorm, landslide, inundation affecting individual farms).

Since its launch, PMFBY has paid out claims worth over ₹1.5 lakh crore to farmers. The scheme uses satellite imagery, drones, and remote sensing for quick crop loss assessment — reducing the time between crop loss and claim payment. KCC loan holders are automatically enrolled (unless they opt out), while non-loanee farmers can enroll voluntarily at banks, CSC centers, or through the PMFBY mobile app.

✅Eligibility

Who can enrollAll farmers — KCC loanee farmers are auto-enrolled, non-loanee farmers enroll voluntarily

Crop coverageAll food crops (paddy, wheat, pulses), oilseeds, and commercial/horticultural crops notified in your district

KCC farmersAutomatically enrolled — premium deducted from KCC loan. Can opt out by submitting written declaration to bank 7 days before cut-off

Non-loanee farmersEnroll voluntarily at bank, CSC center, or through PMFBY app/portal. Need land records and crop sowing details

Premium (farmer's share)Kharif: 2% of sum insured, Rabi: 1.5%, Commercial crops: 5%. Rest paid by govt.

DocumentsAadhaar, bank account, land records (7/12 extract), crop sowing certificate, previous season photo (for PMFBY app)

💰How Premium Calculation Works — Example

Let's say you grow paddy (kharif crop) on 2 acres. The sum insured for paddy in your district is ₹50,000 per acre (set by the government based on scale of finance).

Total sum insured = 2 acres × ₹50,000 = ₹1,00,000

Farmer's premium = 2% of ₹1,00,000 = ₹2,000

Actual actuarial premium might be = 20% of ₹1,00,000 = ₹20,000

Government pays the remaining = ₹20,000 - ₹2,000 = ₹18,000 (shared between central and state govt)

If your crop fails due to drought and the yield loss exceeds the threshold, you could receive up to ₹1,00,000 in claim — against a premium of just ₹2,000. That's 50× your investment in insurance.

📄How to File a Claim

Report crop loss within 72 hours

Inform your bank, local agriculture office, or insurance company within 72 hours of crop loss. You can also report through the PMFBY mobile app — take photos of the damaged crop and upload. Call the Crop Insurance helpline: 1800-200-7710.

Submit crop cutting experiment (CCE) data

The government and insurance company conduct Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) in your area to assess actual yield vs expected yield. If the actual yield is below the threshold yield, the loss is confirmed for the entire area.

Individual claim for localized calamities

For hailstorm, landslide, or inundation affecting your individual farm (not the entire area), submit individual claim with photos, village officer's certificate, and loss assessment report. Insurance company sends a surveyor within 10 days.

Claim amount credited to bank account

Once loss is assessed and approved, the claim amount is directly credited to your Aadhaar-linked bank account. For area-based claims, processing takes 2-3 months after harvest data is compiled. For individual claims, target is 30 days.

🔍How to Check Claim Status

Method 1 — PMFBY Portal: Visit pmfby.gov.in → click 'Application Status' → enter your application number or policy number → view claim status including assessment stage, approved amount, and payment status.

Method 2 — PMFBY Mobile App: Download the 'Crop Insurance' app → login with your registered mobile → check real-time status of your insurance policy and any pending claims.

Method 3 — Contact insurance company: Each district has a designated insurance company. Find their contact details on the PMFBY portal → District Insurance Company page. Call their local office directly.

Method 4 — Bank: If you're a KCC loanee farmer, your bank can check the claim status for you. Visit the branch where your KCC is held.

📝How to Apply

KCC farmers: automatic (opt-out if not wanted)

If you have KCC and grow a notified crop, you're auto-enrolled. Premium is deducted from your KCC account. To opt out, submit written declaration to bank 7 days before the crop season's insurance cut-off date.

Non-KCC farmers: apply at bank, CSC, or app

Visit any bank or CSC center before the enrollment deadline. Carry Aadhaar, bank passbook, land records, and crop details. You can also enroll through the PMFBY mobile app with self-declaration.

Pay farmer's share of premium

2% for kharif, 1.5% for rabi crops. For a ₹1 lakh sum insured, you pay ₹2,000 (kharif) or ₹1,500 (rabi).

Get insurance policy confirmation

You'll receive policy details via SMS and can verify on the PMFBY portal. Keep the policy number safe — needed for claims.

⚠️Report crop loss within 72 hours using the PMFBY app, toll-free number 1800-200-7710, or at your bank/agriculture office. Late reporting may result in claim rejection. Take photos of damaged crops immediately as evidence.