Enrolment under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has slowed sharply for the Kharif 2026 season, with district-level data from Haryana and Jharkhand showing some of the lowest crop-insurance coverage in years. Officials say farmer participation in the government’s flagship crop-insurance scheme is falling well short of targets.
What the latest figures show
In Haryana’s Mahendragarh-Narnaul district, only 8,756 farmers insured about 8,980 hectares in Kharif 2026 so far — described in local reporting as the lowest coverage in six years. For comparison, the district recorded 52,215 enrolments in Kharif 2019 and 48,345 in Kharif 2020, showing a steady decline in interest.
In Jharkhand, the picture is similar. Reports say Jamtara reached only 28.5% of its target of 1.50 lakh farmers, while Gumla insured about 46% of its farmers, slipping to 16th place among districts in the state.
Why coverage may be shrinking
Local officials and reports point to several reasons for the lower uptake, though the exact causes vary by district and are not officially confirmed at the national level:
- Reduced awareness of enrolment deadlines among small and marginal farmers
- Dissatisfaction over delayed or disputed claim settlements in earlier seasons
- The scheme being voluntary for non-loanee farmers, so many opt out
- Confusion over premium payment and documentation at the last mile
In Mahendragarh-Narnaul alone, farmers have paid roughly Rs 200.94 crore in premium under the scheme between 2019 and Kharif 2026, according to available data cited in local reporting.
How PMFBY works
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana provides insurance cover against crop loss due to natural calamities, pests and diseases. Farmers pay a fixed share of the premium — typically 2% for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops — while the balance is shared by the central and state governments.
Loanee farmers who take crop loans were earlier enrolled automatically, but the scheme was later made voluntary, which some officials link to the drop in numbers. Enrolment is done through banks, Common Service Centres, insurance intermediaries and the official portal.
What farmers should check
- Whether your state’s Kharif 2026 enrolment window is still open, as cut-off dates vary by state and notification
- Your insured area, crop and premium receipt on the PMFBY portal
- The correct grievance channel if a past claim is pending
Farmers are advised to confirm scheme details and deadlines with their local agriculture office, bank or the official PMFBY portal, since state-specific dates and rules can differ. Figures quoted above are drawn from district-level news reports and have not been independently confirmed.