Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) - Punjab Implementation

Why it matters

Insures farmers' crops against loss from natural calamities, pests and unseasonal weather, so a bad season does not wipe out a year's income.

What you get

PMFBY, launched nationally on 18 February 2016 and implemented by the Punjab state government for notified crops and districts, provides comprehensive insurance coverage against yield losses from natural calamities, pest attacks, crop diseases, unseasonal rainfall and post-harvest losses for a fixed window after harvest. Farmers pay a low, fixed premium (historically 2% for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops, 5% for commercial/horticultural crops), with the balance of the actuarial premium subsidised jointly by the central and state governments. Claims are assessed using yield data from Crop Cutting Experiments and increasingly remote-sensing/satellite technology, with payouts credited directly to the insured farmer's bank account.

Eligibility criteria

• Farmer growing a notified crop in a notified district/block of Punjab for the relevant season
• Loanee farmers automatically covered (can opt out); non-loanee farmers can opt in voluntarily
• Premium paid by the application deadline for the season

How to apply

1. 1

   Apply through your bank (for loanee farmers, automatic) or via the PMFBY portal/Common Service Centre (for non-loanee farmers)

2. 2

   Pay the farmer-share premium for the notified crop

3. 3

   Claims assessed via Crop Cutting Experiments/satellite data and paid via DBT after a calamity is notified

Documents required

• Land record / sowing certificate
• Aadhaar-linked bank account
• Crop sowing declaration