Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is India’s largest crop insurance scheme, covering over 5.5 crore farmers annually. Under PMFBY, farmers pay a maximum premium of 2% for Kharif crops and 1.5% for Rabi crops — the central and state governments jointly pay the balance of the actuarial premium. If your crop is damaged by drought, flood, pest attack, or unseasonal rain, you can claim compensation directly to your bank account via DBT.
This guide covers PMFBY eligibility, how to enroll for Kharif 2025, premium calculation, and the exact step-by-step process to file a claim within the 72-hour window after crop loss.
Who is eligible for PMFBY crop insurance?
Compulsory enrollment
- All farmers who have taken KCC (Kisan Credit Card) crop loans from banks for notified crops are enrolled automatically — premium is deducted from loan account
- If you have a KCC loan, check with your bank whether PMFBY has been deducted — you are already covered
Voluntary enrollment
- Non-loanee farmers — those who have not taken any crop loan — can enroll voluntarily
- Sharecroppers and tenant farmers are eligible — you need a land lease agreement or village panchayat certificate as proof
- Enrollment is possible through bank branches, Common Service Centres (CSC), co-operative societies, or online via the PMFBY portal
Crops covered
- Food crops: Paddy, wheat, maize, bajra, jowar, ragi
- Oilseeds: Soybean, groundnut, mustard, sunflower
- Commercial crops: Cotton, sugarcane, jute
- Horticulture crops: Onion, potato, tomato, banana — coverage varies by state notification
- Only notified crops in your district are covered — check your state agriculture department website for the notified crop list before enrolling
How much premium do you pay under PMFBY?
PMFBY has one of the lowest farmer premium rates among all crop insurance schemes in the world. The government bears the majority of the insurance cost:
| Season / Crop Type | Farmer Premium % | Govt Subsidy % | Example Crop |
| Kharif crops | Maximum 2% | Balance of actuarial rate | Paddy, Maize, Soybean, Cotton |
| Rabi crops | Maximum 1.5% | Balance of actuarial rate | Wheat, Gram, Mustard, Onion |
| Annual commercial & horticulture | Maximum 5% | Balance of actuarial rate | Sugarcane, Potato, Tomato |
| Example: Soybean (Kharif) | Rs. 800 to 1,200 per acre | Rs. 3,000 to 6,000 per acre | Sum insured: Rs. 40,000/acre |
Example calculation: If you grow soybean on 3 acres in Maharashtra, with a sum insured of Rs. 40,000 per acre, your total premium at 2% = Rs. 800 per acre x 3 acres = Rs. 2,400. The government pays the remaining actuarial premium which could be Rs. 15,000 to 20,000 — you pay only Rs. 2,400 for Rs. 1.2 lakh of crop insurance cover.
How to enroll in PMFBY for Kharif 2025?
The enrollment deadline for Kharif 2025 is typically the last date of July 2025. Do not miss this window — late enrollment is not accepted under any circumstances.
Method 1 — Online via PMFBY portal (fastest)
- Visit pmfby.gov.in and click ‘Farmer Corner’
- Register using your mobile number linked to Aadhaar
- Enter land details: survey number, khasra number, crop name, sowing date
- Upload documents: Aadhaar, land records (7/12 or Khasra-Khatauni), bank passbook, sowing certificate
- Pay premium online via UPI, net banking, or debit card
- Download and save your insurance certificate
Method 2 — Through bank or CSC
- Visit your nearest bank branch (where KCC or savings account is held) or Common Service Centre
- Carry: Aadhaar card, land record document, crop sowing certificate, bank passbook
- Bank or CSC agent will fill the form and process enrollment — collect receipt
- Premium is deducted from your account or paid at counter
Important: If you are a KCC loan holder, confirm with your bank that PMFBY enrollment has been done for the current season — in some cases banks auto-enroll but farmers are unaware. Ask for the insurance certificate copy.
What risks does PMFBY cover?
Covered under PMFBY
- Prevented sowing: If widespread rainfall failure prevents sowing across the notified area
- Standing crop loss: Drought, flood, pest and disease, landslide, hailstorm, cyclone — affecting yield below threshold
- Post-harvest losses: Damage within 14 days of harvest due to cyclone, unseasonal rain, or hailstorm — for crops kept in field to dry
- Localised calamities: Hailstorm, landslide, or inundation — individual farm basis (not area-average basis)
NOT covered under PMFBY
- Losses due to war, nuclear risk, or malicious damage
- Theft of harvested produce
- Damage caused by animals like nilgai, wild boar, or stray cattle
- Crops not listed in the state notification for your district
How to file a PMFBY claim after crop loss — step by step
The 72-hour reporting window is the most critical rule in PMFBY. Missing this deadline disqualifies your claim regardless of actual damage. Act immediately after crop loss.
Step 1 — Report within 72 hours (mandatory)
- Call the Crop Insurance Company helpline number (listed on your insurance certificate)
- Call the Kisan Call Centre: 1800-180-1551 (toll-free, 24×7)
- Alternatively, report via Crop Insurance App: Download from Play Store — search ‘Crop Insurance’
- Report to your nearest bank branch, CSC, or Panchayat agriculture officer
- Note your complaint/registration number — essential for follow-up
Step 2 — Document the damage
- Take photographs and videos of damaged crop with date and location visible — keep stored in phone
- Get a loss assessment letter from your village Patwari or Talathi
- If neighbours are also affected, file a joint complaint — group complaints are processed faster
Step 3 — Submit claim documents
- Completed claim form (from bank or CSC)
- Aadhaar card copy
- Land record (7/12 extract or Khasra copy)
- Bank passbook copy
- Insurance policy certificate
- Photographs and damage evidence
- Patwari or Talathi loss assessment letter
Step 4 — Track your claim status
- Online: Visit pmfby.gov.in → Application Status → Enter policy number
- App: Crop Insurance App → Claim Status section
- Phone: Call your insurer’s helpline with your complaint registration number
If claim is rejected or delayed beyond 60 days, escalate to your district agriculture officer or file a grievance on the PMFBY portal under ‘Farmer Grievance’ section.
How long does PMFBY claim payment take?
| Action | Who Does It | Deadline |
| Report crop loss to insurer / bank / CSC | Farmer | Within 72 hours of damage |
| Intimation via Crop Insurance App or helpline | Farmer | Within 72 hours |
| Crop cutting experiment (CCE) at field | State agriculture department | Within 10 to 15 days of harvest |
| Yield data submission to insurer | State government | Within 30 days post-harvest |
| Claim processing by insurance company | Empanelled insurer (AIC, Bajaj, etc.) | Within 30 days of data receipt |
| Claim amount credited to bank account | Insurance company via DBT | Within 60 to 90 days total |
Which company provides PMFBY insurance in your state?
PMFBY implementation is done through empanelled insurance companies. Your insurer depends on your state and district — it is mentioned on your insurance certificate. Here are the main insurers and their helplines:
| Insurance Company | Helpline | Strong Presence In |
| Agriculture Insurance Company (AIC) | 1800-116-515 | All India |
| Bajaj Allianz General Insurance | 1800-209-5858 | Maharashtra, Karnataka, MP |
| ICICI Lombard General Insurance | 1800-266-9725 | Gujarat, Rajasthan, UP |
| Reliance General Insurance | 1800-102-4088 | Maharashtra, AP, Telangana |
| SBI General Insurance | 1800-221-111 | Pan India — via SBI branches |
PMFBY vs RWBCIS — which scheme is better?
India runs two parallel crop insurance schemes. Many farmers are unsure which one they are enrolled in:
| Feature | PMFBY (Fasal Bima) | RWBCIS (Restructured Weather) |
| Coverage trigger | Actual yield loss vs threshold yield | Weather parameter deviation (rain, temp, humidity) |
| Claim basis | Crop Cutting Experiment (CCE) data | Automatic weather station data — no CCE needed |
| Claim speed | 60 to 90 days post-harvest | Faster — 30 to 45 days |
| Best for | All crops — comprehensive cover | Regions with reliable weather station coverage |
| Limitation | CCE delays can slow payout | No coverage if damage is non-weather related |
In Maharashtra, both PMFBY and RWBCIS run simultaneously — which scheme applies to your crop depends on state notification. Check your insurance certificate carefully — it mentions the scheme name.
Summary
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is one of the most farmer-friendly insurance schemes in India — you pay just 2% premium for Kharif crops while the government covers the rest. The key to benefiting from PMFBY is: enroll before the season deadline, report crop damage within 72 hours of the event, document everything with photos and Patwari letter, and track your claim status regularly on the portal or app.
Do not wait for someone else to file the complaint — the 72-hour window starts from the day of damage, not the day you find out about the scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PMFBY enrollment compulsory for all farmers?
No — PMFBY is compulsory only for farmers with KCC (Kisan Credit Card) crop loans for notified crops. All other farmers including non-loanee farmers, tenant farmers, and sharecroppers can enroll voluntarily. Since 2020, the government made PMFBY voluntary for loanee farmers too — you can opt out by submitting a written declaration to your bank before the enrollment deadline.
What is the PMFBY claim amount — how is it calculated?
Claim amount = (Threshold yield minus Actual yield) divided by Threshold yield, multiplied by Sum Insured per acre. Example: If threshold yield is 10 quintals per acre, actual yield is 6 quintals, and sum insured is Rs. 40,000 per acre — claim = (10-6)/10 x 40,000 = Rs. 16,000 per acre. Yield is determined by state government Crop Cutting Experiments (CCE), not individual farm assessment.
Can tenant farmers and sharecroppers apply for PMFBY?
Yes. Tenant farmers and sharecroppers are explicitly eligible under PMFBY. Required documents: a registered land lease agreement or a certificate from the village panchayat or Gram Sabha confirming the farming arrangement. Without this document, the claim may be rejected even if the crop is damaged.
My PMFBY claim was rejected — what can I do?
File a grievance on the PMFBY portal at pmfby.gov.in under the Farmer Grievance section. You can also approach: (1) your district agriculture officer, (2) the Insurance Ombudsman in your state, or (3) the state agriculture department helpline. Common rejection reasons are: late reporting beyond 72 hours, crop not in notified list, mismatch in land records, or enrollment after cut-off date.
Does PMFBY cover damage from wild animal attacks?
No — damage caused by wild animals including nilgai, wild boar, monkeys, and stray cattle is explicitly excluded under PMFBY. For wild animal damage, you need to approach your state forest department or revenue department for compensation under separate state government schemes. Some states like Maharashtra and UP have separate wild animal damage compensation programmes.
