Crop insurance protects farmers against loss of yield from natural risks. The main government scheme is the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), run with state governments and insurance companies for the crops and areas each state notifies for a season.
Insurers also offer livestock, farm equipment and other rural policies. Their cover, premiums and claim rules are set by each policy; read the policy wording before buying.
Products
No products are listed in this category yet. Products appear here only after Finobazaar has reviewed them against the insurer's documents; we do not show invented products or prices.
What policies usually cover
- Crop loss from natural risks such as drought, flood, cyclone, hailstorm, pests and diseases, as notified for the season
- Prevented sowing, localised calamities and specified post-harvest losses under PMFBY
- Death of insured cattle or other livestock, under a livestock policy
Your policy wording lists exactly what is covered, the limits and the exclusions.
What to check before you buy
- Whether your crop and area are notified for the season, and the last date to enrol
- If you have a crop loan: whether your bank has enrolled you and deducted the premium
- Land records, tenancy or sowing documents your state accepts
- How and by when to report a crop loss
Key terms
- Loanee farmer
- A farmer with a seasonal crop loan or Kisan Credit Card, enrolled through the bank.
- Non-loanee farmer
- A farmer without such a loan, who can choose to enrol.
- Notified crop and area
- The crops and areas the state government lists for a season; only these can be insured under the scheme.
Rules that apply
- Under PMFBY the farmer pays at most 2% of the sum insured for kharif food and oilseed crops, 1.5% for rabi food and oilseed crops and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops; the Centre and the state pay the rest of the premium. [1]
- Farmers with a seasonal crop loan or Kisan Credit Card are enrolled through their bank, which deducts the premium; farmers without such a loan can enrol voluntarily. Tenant farmers and sharecroppers can enrol subject to the scheme's rules. [1]
- Grievances and help: the toll-free Krishi Rakshak helpline 14447. [1]
Rules referred to
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana – Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, backgrounder published by PIB (PIB, 29 August 2026)
Who can enrol, the farmer's share of the premium and the helpline. State governments notify the crops and areas each season.
Finobazaar read published copies of these rules on 19 October 2026. Rules change: check the current text on irdai.gov.in or with your insurer.
Calculators
Guides and checklists
- Policy exclusions: what insurance does not coverWhere to find exclusions in a policy and how to read them.
- Claim rejected? Complaints and the Insurance OmbudsmanHow to challenge a rejection or short payment: insurer, IRDAI's Bima Bharosa and the Ombudsman.
- Policy details review checklistWhat to check in a new policy, ideally within the free-look period.
Official resources
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana – National Crop Insurance Portal (opens in a new tab)The government crop insurance scheme: enrolment, notified crops and claim status.Krishi Rakshak helpline: 14447 (toll-free).
- IRDAI – Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (opens in a new tab)The insurance regulator: regulations, circulars and the lists of registered insurers and intermediaries.
- IRDAI policyholder website (opens in a new tab)IRDAI's site for policyholders: consumer education and how to complain.
Addresses checked on 19 October 2026.