Sri Vijaya Puram, August 12: Farmers across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have until August 31 to enrol under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for the Kharif 2026 season, enabling them to receive crop insurance coverage without paying any premium. The scheme, fully subsidised by the Government, is available to eligible farmers growing notified crops in all three districts of the Union Territory.
PMFBY, one of the Government of India’s flagship schemes, has been implemented in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands since 2016. The programme provides insurance coverage to registered farmers against crop losses caused by a range of unforeseen events, including drought, dry spells, floods, inundation, pests, diseases, landslides, natural fire, lightning, storms, hailstorms, cyclones, typhoons, tempests, hurricanes and tornadoes. The scheme also seeks to ensure the flow of credit to the agriculture sector and stabilise farmers’ income.
For the Kharif 2026 season, paddy is the notified crop under PMFBY across all three districts of the Union Territory. The notified crop carries an indemnity level of 80 per cent.
The scheme is open to both loanee and non-loanee farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers cultivating the notified crop in notified areas. Farmers are not required to pay any insurance premium, as the entire actuarial premium will be borne by the Government.
To enrol, applicants must submit the prescribed land-related documents, including records of rights, land possession certificates or any other documents permitted by the Union Territory. Farmers may complete enrolment through the State Bank of India or the concerned Cooperative Bank in their area. They may also register online through the National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) at pmfby.gov.in.
PMFBY provides insurance coverage for losses arising from prevented sowing, crop damage between sowing and harvesting due to notified risks, and post-harvest losses for up to two weeks after harvesting for crops left in cut and spread or small bundled condition in the field. Coverage during the post-harvest period applies to losses caused by cyclones, cyclonic rains and unseasonal rainfall.
Insured farmers must report any crop loss immediately and within 72 hours of the incident. Losses may be reported directly or through personal mobile or landline phones, other available communication channels, the implementing agency, Kshema General Insurance Limited, the concerned bank or the local Agriculture Department. Farmers requiring assistance can contact the Kisan Call Centre helpline at 243434 or 18003451145 or approach Agriculture Department officials in their respective zones.
