The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been expanded to include crop losses caused by wild animal attacks and inundation of paddy fields, starting with the Kharif season of 2026. This is a significant upgrade to the scheme, providing much-needed insurance relief to farmers suffering from localised damages that were previously excluded. The announcement was made by the Union Agriculture Ministry in response to longstanding demands by farmers, particularly from regions bordering forests and flood-prone zones.
From Kharif 2026, crop damage due to attacks by wild animals such as elephants, wild boars, nilgai, deer, and monkeys will be officially recognised as an insurable event. This risk will be included as the fifth add-on under the localized risk category of the scheme.
Such incidents are especially common in areas located near forests, wildlife corridors, and hilly terrains, where farmers face frequent invasions by wild animals that destroy standing crops and impact livelihoods.
Another key inclusion is the inundation of paddy fields, which often occurs due to heavy rainfall, cyclonic storms, or inadequate drainage. With this move, farmers will now be eligible to claim insurance if their paddy crops are damaged by waterlogging or flooding.
This development is particularly relevant to states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and West Bengal, where inundation has become a recurring issue during the monsoon season.
PMFBY is a centrally sponsored crop insurance scheme launched in 2016. It protects farmers from financial losses due to natural disasters, pests, and diseases affecting their crops. The scheme is available for both loanee and non-loanee farmers.
Any amount above these fixed premiums is shared equally between the Central and State Governments as a subsidy. Insurance companies are selected through a bidding process each year.
The Localized Risk section of PMFBY provides protection against crop losses caused by isolated events such as hailstorms, landslides, floods, and now includes wild animal attacks and inundation.
This category allows for fast-track assessment and claim settlement in specific villages or small areas where damage has occurred, even if the entire district is not affected.
The new inclusions are expected to bring significant relief to farmers,
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