Sri Vijaya Puram | January 04, 2026
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), a flagship crop insurance scheme of the Government of India, is being implemented in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands since 2016 to provide financial protection to farmers against crop losses arising from natural calamities and other unforeseen events. The scheme has now been notified for implementation across the Islands for the Rabi 2025–26 season, offering significant relief to farmers.
For the current Rabi season, Pulses and Vegetable crops have been notified for insurance coverage under PMFBY. A single cluster comprising South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, and Nicobar district (Campbell Bay area only) has been formed for implementation of the scheme. The indemnity level has been fixed at 80 per cent for all notified crops.
The scale of finance for Rabi 2025–26 under PMFBY has been notified as Rs. 59,433 per hectare for Pulses, including Green Gram and Black Gram. For Vegetable crops, the scale of finance has been fixed at Rs. 1,88,468 per hectare for Tomato, Rs. 1,66,404 per hectare for Bhindi, Rs. 1,24,419 per hectare for Lobia, Rs. 1,72,742 per hectare for Brinjal, Rs. 2,46,047 per hectare for Cauliflower, and Rs. 1,47,825 per hectare for Watermelon. The sum insured for each crop will be calculated by multiplying the applicable scale of finance with the area insured under the scheme.
In a major relief to the farming community, the Administration has announced 100 per cent premium subsidy for the Rabi 2025–26 season, making PMFBY completely free of cost for both loanee and non-loanee farmers. The scheme provides coverage against prevented sowing, risks from sowing to harvest, post-harvest losses, localised calamities, and mid-season adversity, ensuring comprehensive protection to farmers.
All farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers, cultivating notified crops in notified areas are eligible to enrol under the scheme. The cut-off date for enrolment is 15 January 2026. Farmers may enrol through their concerned banks or opt for self-registration on the National Crop Insurance Portal (www.pmfby.gov.in).
In the event of crop loss, farmers are required to intimate the loss within 72 hours to the implementing agency Kshema General Insurance Limited, the concerned bank, or the Agriculture Department. For guidance and support, farmers may also contact the Kisan Call Centre at 243434 or toll-free number 1800 345 1145.
Farmers have been urged to take advantage of the free crop insurance coverage and ensure timely enrolment to safeguard their crops and livelihoods during the Rabi 2025–26 season.
