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Crop insurance in India is an agricultural risk management tool that compensates farmers for financial losses caused by crop failure due to natural calamities, pests, diseases, and adverse weather. The Government of India runs the flagship Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) — together among the world’s largest government crop insurance programs. Private insurers also offer standalone crop protection insurance and Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) for comprehensive farm coverage.
Farming insurance covers both Kharif crop insurance (paddy, cotton, maize, soybean — sown June–July) and Rabi crop insurance (wheat, mustard, gram, lentil — sown October–November). Under the Meri Policy Mere Haath initiative, policy documents are now delivered door-to-door to every enrolled farmer. TropoGo helps farmers across India — including crop insurance in Karnataka, UP, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and all states — understand schemes, calculate premiums, and complete enrolment.
Under PMFBY, farmers pay a maximum premium of 2% for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops, and 5% for annual commercial and horticulture crops. The rest of the premium is subsidised equally by the Central and State governments. Crop loss is assessed at the village level (gram panchayat) using Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) and satellite imagery. Claims are settled directly into the farmer’s Aadhaar-linked bank account.
Under PMFBY and WBCIS, the Central Government bears 50% of the subsidy on premium above the farmer’s share; State Governments bear the other 50%. In North Eastern states, the Centre bears 90% of premium subsidy. Farmers with loans (loanee farmers) are enrolled automatically through their lending bank. Non-loanee farmers can enrol voluntarily through Common Service Centres (CSCs), bank branches, or the PMFBY online portal.
| Feature | Kharif Crop Insurance | Rabi Crop Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Season | June–October (Monsoon) | October–March (Winter) |
| Key Crops | Paddy, Cotton, Maize, Soybean, Groundnut, Sugarcane, Arhar | Wheat, Mustard, Gram, Lentil, Barley, Sunflower |
| Max Farmer Premium | 2% of Sum Insured | 1.5% of Sum Insured |
| Enrolment Deadline | July 31 (varies by state) | December 31 (varies by state) |
| Main Risks | Drought, flood, pest, unseasonal rain | Frost, cold wave, untimely rain, hailstorm |
| States with High Coverage | UP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, MP | UP, MP, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar |
| Horticulture Crops | Banana, Onion, Tomato, Mango (selected states) | Potato, Peas, Cabbage, Cauliflower (selected states) |
For 1 acre of paddy (Kharif) with sum insured ₹35,000: Farmer’s premium = ₹700 (2%). Government subsidy = ₹2,800–₹5,600+. For 1 acre of wheat (Rabi) with sum insured ₹30,000: Farmer’s premium = ₹450 (1.5%). For horticulture crops: Farmer’s premium = 5% of notified sum insured. Use TropoGo’s crop insurance premium calculator for state-specific rates.
TropoGo connects farmers with PMFBY-empanelled insurers including Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC), Bajaj Allianz, HDFC ERGO, Reliance General, IFFCO Tokio, SBI General, and more. Whether you are looking for affordable crop insurance schemes in Karnataka, flood insurance for farmers in Bihar, or horticulture crop insurance in Maharashtra — TropoGo’s experts are available to guide you.
Crop insurance in India is a risk management tool that compensates farmers for financial losses caused by crop failure due to natural calamities, adverse weather, pest and disease attacks. The main government schemes are Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS). Private insurers also offer Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) for comprehensive farm coverage beyond government schemes. Index-based agricultural insurance models are also gaining traction for faster payout mechanisms.
PMFBY is India’s flagship crop insurance scheme. Farmers pay a maximum premium of 2% for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops, and 5% for horticulture crops. The Central and State Governments subsidise the remaining premium. Yield loss is assessed at the gram panchayat level through Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs). Approved claims are paid directly into the farmer’s Aadhaar-linked bank account via DBT.
PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) is a yield-based scheme — it compensates for actual crop yield loss assessed through Crop Cutting Experiments. WBCIS (Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme) is an index-based scheme — payouts are automatically triggered when weather parameters (rainfall, temperature, humidity) breach pre-defined thresholds at automated weather stations. WBCIS offers faster settlements but requires good weather station coverage in the area.
To buy crop insurance online: visit the PMFBY portal (pmfby.gov.in), your state agriculture department portal, or TropoGo. You will need Aadhaar, land records (Khasra/Khatauni), and a bank account linked to Aadhaar. Loanee farmers are auto-enrolled by their lending bank before the cutoff date. Non-loanee farmers can enrol voluntarily through Common Service Centres, bank branches, or online. Enrolment deadlines are typically July 31 for Kharif and December 31 for Rabi.
Yes — crop insurance covers a wide range of natural disasters including drought, flood, cyclone, hailstorm, unseasonal rains, pest and disease outbreaks, cold wave, frost, and landslide. PMFBY covers both widespread calamities (assessed via CCEs) and localised calamities (intimated within 72 hours). WBCIS covers specific weather events defined in the policy schedule for each crop and location.
Documents required for crop insurance claim include: Aadhaar card, land records (Khasra/Khatauni), bank passbook linked to Aadhaar, crop insurance policy or enrolment acknowledgement, sowing certificate from revenue officer or gram panchayat, loss intimation letter (submitted within 72 hours for localised damage), photographs/videos of crop damage, and the claim form. For WBCIS claims, payouts may be triggered automatically without paperwork.
A crop insurance premium calculator estimates the farmer’s share of premium based on crop type, sum insured, season, and state. Under PMFBY, the farmer’s premium is capped at 2% (Kharif), 1.5% (Rabi), or 5% (horticulture). For example: 1 acre of paddy with sum insured ₹35,000 = farmer pays ₹700. Use TropoGo’s crop insurance premium calculator or the PMFBY portal for state-specific notified sum insured rates and premium amounts.
Yes — best crop insurance for horticulture is available under PMFBY (with 5% farmer premium cap), WBCIS, and private MPCI policies. Horticulture crops like mango, banana, grapes, pomegranate, onion, potato, and tomato are notified in select states. High-value horticulture crops may also benefit from private crop protection insurance policies that offer more comprehensive coverage than PMFBY, including market price risk and post-harvest loss cover.
