Every year, lakhs of Indian farmers lose their crops to unseasonal rain, drought, hailstorm, or pest attacks — and many never get compensated because they either didn't know insurance was available or missed the enrollment window. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is the Central Government's crop insurance scheme that protects farmers against exactly this kind of loss, at a premium so low that most farmers pay less than what they'd spend on a single day's diesel for irrigation. This guide explains who can apply, what it costs, how to enrol online, and — most importantly — how to actually file a claim when your crop is damaged.
What is PM Fasal Bima Yojana?
PMFBY, launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, provides financial compensation to farmers if their notified crop is damaged due to natural calamities, pests, or diseases — from sowing to post-harvest stage. The scheme covers both Kharif (monsoon-sown) and Rabi (winter-sown) crops, as well as annual commercial and horticultural crops, and is implemented through empanelled insurance companies in each state.
PMFBY is voluntary for all farmers since the 2020 revamp — you are not required to enrol just because you have a crop loan, though loanee farmers are auto-enrolled unless they opt out in writing before the cut-off date.
Premium You Pay vs. Government Subsidy
| Kharif crops (paddy, cotton, bajra, etc.) | Farmer pays 2% of Sum Insured |
| Rabi crops (wheat, gram, mustard, etc.) | Farmer pays 1.5% of Sum Insured |
| Annual commercial/horticultural crops | Farmer pays 5% of Sum Insured |
| Remaining premium | Shared equally by Central and State Government |
Who Can Apply
- ●All farmers growing notified crops in a notified area — landowner or tenant/sharecropper
- ●Loanee farmers who have taken a Kisan Credit Card or crop loan for a notified crop (auto-enrolled by the bank unless opted out)
- ●Non-loanee farmers who apply voluntarily on the PMFBY portal or through a Common Service Centre (CSC)
- ●Farmers must have valid land records or a tenancy/cultivation agreement in states where sharecropper coverage applies
Documents Required
- ●Aadhaar Card
- ●Bank passbook or cancelled cheque (account must be linked to Aadhaar for claim credit)
- ●Land ownership record (Khasra/Khatauni, 7/12 extract, or Record of Rights depending on state) OR tenant/sharecropper agreement
- ●Sowing certificate issued by the village revenue officer or Patwari (mandatory for non-loanee farmers)
- ●Passport-size photograph (for offline/CSC applications)
How to Apply Online on pmfby.gov.in
- 1Go to the official portal at pmfby.gov.in
- 2Click 'Farmer Corner' on the homepage, then select 'Apply for Crop Insurance (Non Loanee Farmer)'
- 3Click 'Guest Farmer' if you are a new user, or 'Login' if you already have a registered account
- 4Enter your mobile number and click 'Generate OTP', then verify with the OTP received
- 5Fill in personal details — name, Aadhaar number, state, district, and bank account details exactly as per your passbook
- 6Select the season (Kharif or Rabi), crop name, and area sown in the 'Crop Details' section
- 7Upload scanned copies of your land record and sowing certificate under 'Document Upload'
- 8Review the premium amount auto-calculated on screen, then click 'Make Payment' and pay via UPI, debit card, or net banking
- 9Click 'Submit Application' — note the Application Reference Number (ARN) shown, and download the acknowledgement receipt
How to Apply via CSC or Bank (Offline Route)
- 1Visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or the bank branch that holds your crop loan account
- 2Ask for the 'PMFBY Crop Insurance Proposal Form' and fill it with crop, area, and bank details
- 3Submit your Aadhaar, land record, and sowing certificate copies along with the form
- 4Pay the farmer's share of the premium in cash or via the CSC's digital payment option
- 5Collect the acknowledgement slip with your Application Reference Number for future tracking
Enrollment closes well before the harvest — typically by 31 July for Kharif crops and 31 December for Rabi crops, but exact cut-off dates are notified separately by each state government and can be earlier. Do not wait until the last week; banks and CSCs get overloaded near the deadline and late applications are rejected outright.
How to Check Application and Claim Status
- 1Go to pmfby.gov.in and click 'Application Status' under the Farmer Corner menu
- 2Enter your Application Reference Number or your registered mobile number
- 3Click 'Search' to view enrollment confirmation, premium paid, and sum insured
- 4For claim status, click 'Claim Status' in the same menu and enter your ARN to see the settlement stage
Filing a Claim After Crop Loss
- ●For localized risks (hailstorm, landslide, flood, or inundation), report the loss within 72 hours of the event through the 'Crop Insurance' mobile app, the PMFBY helpline, or your bank/insurance company office
- ●For widespread calamities, claims are calculated automatically using Crop Cutting Experiment (CCE) yield data collected by the state government — no individual reporting is needed
- ●An insurance company surveyor may visit your field to assess damage for localized claims — keep your ARN and photographs of the damaged crop ready
- ●Approved claim amounts are credited directly to the bank account linked with your application, usually within a few weeks of the yield data being finalised
You can report crop damage from localized calamities directly through the 'Crop Insurance' app (available on Google Play) by selecting 'Loss Intimation' — this creates a timestamped record even if a government official hasn't visited your field yet.
Sum Insured and Payout Basis
| Sum Insured | Equal to the Scale of Finance fixed by the District Level Technical Committee for that crop |
| Payout for widespread loss | Based on Threshold Yield vs. Actual Yield from Crop Cutting Experiments |
| Payout for localized loss | Based on individual field assessment (hailstorm, landslide, inundation) |
| Post-harvest losses | Covered for up to 14 days after harvest for crops dried in the field |
Helpline and Support
For enrollment issues, premium disputes, or claim delays, call the PMFBY toll-free helpline at 14447, or contact the district agriculture office. You can also raise a grievance through the 'Grievance' tab on the PMFBY portal, which routes your complaint to the concerned insurance company along with your ARN for faster resolution.
Crop insurance only works if you enrol before the season's cut-off — don't wait for a bad monsoon to think about PMFBY. If you already have a Kisan Credit Card, check with your bank whether you've been auto-enrolled or have opted out, since either way you should know your coverage status before the sowing season ends.