Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is the flagship crop insurance scheme of the Government of India. It protects farmers against crop loss caused by natural calamities such as drought, flood, hailstorm, cyclone, pests and diseases, from the pre-sowing stage right up to post-harvest losses.
How Much Premium Does a Farmer Pay?
| Season / Crop | Maximum farmer share of premium |
|---|---|
| Kharif food and oilseed crops | 2% of sum insured |
| Rabi food and oilseed crops | 1.5% of sum insured |
| Annual commercial / horticultural crops | 5% of sum insured |
The remaining premium is shared by the central and state governments, which is what makes the scheme affordable for small and marginal farmers.
What Losses Are Covered?
- Prevented sowing — when adverse weather stops sowing altogether.
- Standing crop loss — drought, dry spells, flooding, pests, diseases, landslides, natural fire and lightning, storms and cyclones.
- Post-harvest loss — damage to crops kept in the field for drying, generally up to 14 days after harvest.
- Localised calamities — hailstorm, landslide or inundation affecting individual farms.
Who Can Enrol?
- All farmers growing notified crops in notified areas, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers with a valid land or cultivation document.
- Enrolment is voluntary for all farmers, including those with crop loans (loanee farmers can opt out by informing their bank before the cut-off date).
Documents Required
- Aadhaar card
- Bank passbook (account must be active)
- Land record / tenancy or cultivation certificate
- Sowing declaration for the notified crop
How to Apply
- Online at the National Crop Insurance Portal — pmfby.gov.in — using the “Farmer Application” option.
- Through your bank branch (for loanee farmers this is usually handled with the crop loan).
- Through a CSC centre or an authorised insurance intermediary.
- Enrol before the seasonal cut-off date notified by your state for each crop.
How to Claim
For localised losses, report the damage within 72 hours through the Crop Insurance app, the toll-free helpline, your insurer or the local agriculture office. Wide-area losses (like drought) are assessed by the state through crop-cutting experiments, and claims are credited directly to your bank account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PMFBY compulsory? No, enrolment is voluntary for all farmers.
Which crops are covered? Only crops notified by your state for your area and season — check the list on pmfby.gov.in before enrolling.
Note: Premium rates, notified crops and cut-off dates are announced season by season. Verify current details on pmfby.gov.in or with your district agriculture office.