The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the Government of India’s flagship crop insurance scheme, has been notified for implementation across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands for the Rabi 2025–26 season, offering comprehensive insurance coverage to farmers against crop losses caused by natural calamities and unforeseen events.

Implemented in the islands since 2016, PMFBY will cover Pulses and Vegetable crops during the upcoming Rabi season. For implementation purposes, a single cluster comprising South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, and Nicobar (Campbell Bay area only) has been formed. An indemnity level of 80 per cent has been fixed for all notified crops under the scheme.

For Rabi 2025–26, the scale of finance for Pulses, including Green Gram and Black Gram, has been fixed at Rs. 59,433 per hectare. For Vegetable crops, the notified scale of finance per hectare is Rs. 1,88,468 for Tomato, Rs. 1,66,404 for Bhindi, Rs. 1,24,419 for Lobia, Rs. 1,72,742 for Brinjal, Rs. 2,46,047 for Cauliflower, and Rs. 1,47,825 for Watermelon. The sum insured for each crop will be calculated by multiplying the applicable scale of finance with the insured area under the scheme.

In a significant relief to farmers, the Administration has announced a 100 per cent premium subsidy for the Rabi 2025–26 season. With the entire premium borne by the government, PMFBY will be completely free of cost for both loanee and non-loanee farmers, encouraging wider participation across the islands.

The scheme provides coverage for a broad range of risks, including prevented sowing, losses from sowing to harvest, post-harvest losses, localized calamities, and mid-season adversity, ensuring financial protection throughout the crop cycle.

Eligibility under PMFBY extends to all farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers, cultivating notified crops in notified areas. The cut-off date for enrollment has been fixed as January 15, 2026. Farmers can enroll through their respective banks or opt for self-registration via the National Crop Insurance Portal at pmfby.gov.in.

In the event of crop loss, farmers are required to intimate the loss within 72 hours to the implementing insurance agency, Kshema General Insurance Limited, or to the concerned bank or Agriculture Department, as per scheme guidelines.

For guidance and grievance redressal, farmers may contact the Kisan Call Centre at 03192-243434 or 1800-345-1145. The Agriculture Department has urged eligible farmers to enroll within the stipulated timeframe to avail the benefits of the scheme during the Rabi 2025–26 season.

Source - https://thewaveandaman.com