PM Fasal Bima Yojana — Crop Insurance at 2% Premium

What is Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana?

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is India's main crop insurance scheme that protects farmers against crop loss due to natural calamities — drought, flood, pest attacks, diseases, hailstorm, cyclone, and landslide. The scheme provides financial support to farmers after a crop failure so they can recover without going into debt.

Under PMFBY, farmers pay a very small premium — only 2% of the sum insured for Kharif crops and 1.5% for Rabi crops. The remaining premium (which can be 15–30% of sum insured) is paid by the central and state governments. This means farmers get maximum insurance coverage for a very low premium.

Premium Rates

The government (central + state) pays the balance premium. If the insurance company charges 20% of sum insured as actual premium, the farmer pays only 2% and the government pays 18%.

What is Covered?

Risks covered:

• Drought, dry spell, flood, inundation
• Pest attack and disease
• Hailstorm, cyclone, typhoon, tempest
• Fire due to lightning
• Landslide and earthquake

Post-harvest losses (up to 14 days):

• Hailstorm, cyclone, cyclonic rain, unseasonal rain causing crop damage after harvest (while the crop is spread/cut in the field)

Localized calamities:

• Hailstorm, landslide, and inundation affecting isolated farms

Prevented sowing / planting:

• If the crop cannot be sown due to lack of rain or natural calamity, partial compensation is paid

Who is Eligible?

• All farmers (owner cultivators, tenant farmers, sharecroppers) growing notified crops in notified areas
• Loanee farmers (who have taken crop loans from banks): enrollment in PMFBY is compulsory (premium deducted automatically from crop loan)
• Non-loanee farmers: enrollment is voluntary (you must apply separately)

Crops covered: Only crops notified by the state government for that season and district. Not all crops are covered in all districts — check at pmfby.gov.in for your district's notified crops.

Documents Required

1. Aadhaar card
2. Land records — 7/12 (Maharashtra), RTC/Pahani (Karnataka), Khasra/Khatauni (UP/MP/Rajasthan), or equivalent
3. Bank account passbook (Aadhaar-linked)
4. Sowing declaration form — stating what crop you have sown and on how many acres
5. Farmer's mobile number
6. For tenant farmers: tenancy agreement or village-level certificate of tenancy

How to Apply — Step by Step

Loanee farmers (crop loan from bank):

• Premium is automatically deducted from your crop loan account before the cut-off date
• You do not need to do anything separately — your bank enrolls you automatically
• Verify by checking your loan passbook or asking your bank

Non-loanee farmers (no crop loan):

Option 1 — Via pmfby.gov.in:

1. Go to pmfby.gov.in
2. Click "Farmer Corner" → "Apply for Crop Insurance yourself"
3. Register with mobile number + Aadhaar
4. Fill in: state, district, crop, area (acres/hectares), sowing date
5. Calculate premium and pay online (debit card/net banking/UPI)
6. Download and save the insurance certificate (policy document)

Option 2 — Via CSC (Common Service Centre):

1. Visit nearest CSC / Gram Panchayat
2. Ask for PMFBY enrollment
3. CSC operator fills details and submits on your behalf
4. You pay the premium at the CSC counter

Option 3 — Via Bank / Insurance Company Agent:

1. Visit your bank branch or the empanelled insurance company's office
2. Fill the PMFBY application form
3. Submit with documents and pay the premium
4. Get the acknowledgment / policy document

Important cut-off dates:

• Kharif: Premium must be paid by the last date for the district (usually July 31 for most districts)
• Rabi: Usually December 31 for most districts

How to Check Application / Policy Status

1. Visit pmfby.gov.in
2. Click "Application Status" or log in with your mobile
3. Enter application / reference number or Aadhaar number
4. Policy details and status are displayed

How to File a Crop Loss Claim

Inform within 72 hours of the crop damage:

1. Call the PMFBY helpline: 1800-200-7710 (toll-free)
2. Or call your insurance company's helpline (listed on your policy document)
3. Or inform your bank branch (for loanee farmers)
4. Or use the Crop Insurance App (available on Android and iOS)
5. Provide: your name, policy number / application ID, crop damaged, cause of damage, estimated area affected

After intimation:

• Insurance company sends a field officer for crop cutting experiment / field assessment
• Assessment determines the percentage of crop loss
• Claims are settled within 2 months after crop cutting experiments

For localized calamities (hailstorm, flooding of specific farm):

• Must be reported within 48–72 hours via the Crop Insurance App or helpline with geo-tagged photos

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PMFBY compulsory for farmers with crop loans?

Yes — for loanee farmers (who have taken crop loans), PMFBY enrollment is mandatory. The premium is deducted from the loan account. However, farmers can now opt out by submitting a written declaration to their bank before the cut-off date.

How is the claim amount calculated?

The claim is based on the sum insured for the crop and the percentage of yield loss compared to the threshold yield (based on crop cutting experiments done by government). If actual yield is below the threshold, compensation is paid proportionally.

When is the money credited?

Claims are processed after crop cutting experiments are completed (usually 1–3 months after harvest). For localized calamities, advance payments of up to 25% of likely claim can be made quickly.

Which insurance company handles PMFBY?

Different insurance companies are empanelled for different states and districts. The company for your area is shown at pmfby.gov.in when you enter your state and district. Major insurers: AIC (Agriculture Insurance Company), Bajaj Allianz, HDFC Ergo, Reliance General, ICICI Lombard.

What if my claim is rejected?

You can file a grievance at pmfby.gov.in → "Grievances" or call 1800-200-7710. You can also approach the district-level Crop Insurance Committee or the consumer forum.

Official Links

• Apply and check status: pmfby.gov.in
• Crop Insurance App: available on Google Play Store
• Scheme details: myscheme.gov.in
• Helpline: 1800-200-7710 (toll-free)