Farmers in India will receive better protection for their crops starting from the 2026 Kharif season. The Union Agriculture Ministry has updated the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to include crop losses caused by wild animal attacks and paddy inundation. This change addresses long-standing demands from farmer groups who have suffered significant losses from these issues.
Crop loss due to wild animal attacks will now be the fifth ‘Add-on Cover’ under the ‘Localised Risk’ category. The Ministry will work with states to identify the specific wild animals that cause damage, such as elephants, wild boars, nilgai, deer, and monkeys. States will also pinpoint the districts or insurance units most affected by these attacks, using historical data. To claim compensation, farmers must report any losses within 72 hours. They will need to use the Crop Insurance App and upload geotagged photos of the damage.
These new guidelines are particularly important for farmers in areas near forests, wildlife corridors, and hilly regions. Previously, losses from animal attacks were often not covered by insurance, leaving farmers without compensation. This update aims to bridge that gap.
Paddy farmers in flood-prone and coastal areas will also benefit from the inclusion of paddy inundation under the scheme. This issue was removed from the localised calamity category in 2018 due to challenges in assessing submerged crops. However, its exclusion left many farmers unprotected during heavy rains and overflowing rivers. The re-introduction of this cover will provide much-needed security for farmers in vulnerable regions.
The Ministry highlighted that the new coverage is expected to significantly help farmers in states facing high human-wildlife conflict. These include Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand. States like Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh, which are prone to wild animal attacks, will also see considerable benefits. The government’s decision acknowledges the widespread and frequent nature of crop damage caused by wild animals across the country.
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is a government scheme that aims to provide financial support to farmers in case of crop failure. The recent amendments demonstrate the government’s commitment to adapting the scheme to meet the evolving needs and challenges faced by the agricultural community in India. By recognising these specific risks, the PMFBY is becoming a more comprehensive safety net for farmers.