Indian farmers have received crop insurance claims worth more than ₹2.06 lakh crore under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana since the scheme began in Kharif 2016.
The latest government data released on August 29, 2026, also shows that more than 92.46 crore farmer applications have been insured under the scheme over the past 10 years.
The scheme covers crop losses caused by several risks, including drought, floods, cyclones, hailstorms, pests, diseases and certain post-harvest losses.
Insurance coverage does not automatically mean that every farmer receives a claim. A claim is paid when crop loss meets the conditions set under the scheme. According to the latest government figures, more than 26.33 crore farmer applications received claims between Kharif 2016 and Rabi 2025–26. The total value of these claims exceeded ₹2.06 lakh crore.
The figures show the scale of crop losses covered under the scheme over the past decade. For farmers, insurance becomes particularly important when a major weather event damages crops and household income depends heavily on one harvest.
What risks does PMFBY cover?
Agriculture remains vulnerable to events that farmers cannot control. PMFBY provides coverage against several risks, including:
- Drought
- Floods
- Cyclones
- Hailstorms
- Pests
- Crop diseases
- Prevented sowing
- Localised calamities
- Inundation-related crop damage
- Unseasonal rainfall
- Specified post-harvest losses
The exact coverage and notified crops can depend on the state and season. Farmers should therefore check the current notification for their district before enrolling.
The government has allocated ₹12,200 crore for PMFBY in the 2026–27 financial year. The scheme remains one of India’s main programmes for protecting farmers against weather-related crop losses and other production risks.
The value of crop insurance has become more relevant as farmers face irregular rainfall, floods, dry spells and other weather-related risks. Insurance cannot prevent crop damage. It can provide financial support after a covered loss. For many farmers, the difference can be important when deciding whether they have enough resources to prepare for the next crop season.
Technology is becoming part of crop insurance
The government is also expanding the use of technology in crop insurance. PMFBY now includes initiatives such as the Yield Estimation System based on Technology, known as YES-TECH, and the Weather Information Network and Data System, or WINDS.
These systems aim to improve crop-loss assessment and make claim settlement faster and more transparent. Technology-based yield estimation is also being introduced for selected crops under the wider crop insurance system. Government data released earlier this month said YES-TECH uses technology-based approaches for yield estimation in crops including paddy, wheat and soybean.
A crop insurance scheme can only help farmers when claims reach them in time. Delayed assessment can create financial pressure because farmers may need money for seeds, fertilisers and other inputs for the next season.
Technology can help collect and process information faster. Digital crop surveys, weather data and technology-based yield estimation can reduce dependence on manual processes in some parts of the assessment system. The government has also linked wider digital agriculture systems with services such as crop insurance and weather advisories. As of August 3, 2026, more than 10.31 crore Farmer IDs had been created under AgriStack.
Farmers should check their local notification
PMFBY rules and crop notifications can vary between states and seasons.
Before enrolling, farmers should check:
- Whether their crop is notified
- Whether their area is covered
- The enrolment deadline
- Premium details
- Risks covered in their district
- The process for reporting crop damage
Farmers should also keep relevant records and report losses within the prescribed process where required. The latest figures show that PMFBY has become one of India’s largest farm-risk protection programmes. More than ₹2.06 lakh crore in claims have been paid over the scheme’s first decade.
For farmers, the next question remains practical: does the insurance cover their crop, and do they know what to do when crop damage occurs?
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