PMFBY Scheme Expansion: Government Adds Coverage for Wild Animal Attacks and Paddy Flooding from Kharif 2026
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has announced a major expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The government has officially approved new guidelines to provide crop insurance coverage for losses caused by wild animal attacks and paddy flooding.
These changes, coming into effect from Kharif 2026, respond to long-standing demands from several states and aim to strengthen India’s crop insurance system for sudden, localised, and severe crop damage.
Crop Loss Due to Wild Animal Attacks Now Covered
For the first time, crop damage caused by wild animal attacks has been included as the fifth add-on cover under the localized risk category of PMFBY.
For years, farmers living around forests, wildlife corridors, and hilly landscapes have suffered heavy losses due to attacks from animals such as:
- Elephants
- Wild boars
- Nilgai
- Deer
- Monkeys
This new insurance benefit is expected to help states with high human–wildlife conflict, including:
Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and many Himalayan and North-Eastern states.
Implementation by States
- States will notify the list of harmful wild animals.
- Vulnerable districts or containment units will be identified using historical crop damage data.
Reporting Process for Farmers
To claim compensation, farmers must:
- Report crop loss within 72 hours
- Use the official Crop Insurance App
- Upload geotagged photographs for quick, technology-driven claim verification
Paddy Flooding Coverage Reintroduced
In another major reform, the government has approved the resumption of paddy flooding as a localised disaster cover under PMFBY.
This cover had been removed in 2018 due to assessment challenges, creating a protection gap for paddy farmers in rain-fed and coastal regions.
The reintroduction will benefit paddy-growing states like:
Odisha, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttarakhand.
These regions frequently face paddy submergence during heavy rains, overflowing rivers, and waterlogging.
Recommendations by Expert Committee Accepted
The Ministry finalized these new insurance modalities based on the recommendations of an expert committee formed to address emerging agricultural risks.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has approved the committee’s suggestions, ensuring the new covers are scientific, transparent, and operationally feasible across the country. The updated framework aligns with the PMFBY Scheme operational guidelines.
Conclusion
The expansion of the PMFBY scheme marks a crucial step in improving the security net for Indian farmers. By including wild animal attacks and paddy flooding under crop insurance, the government aims to reduce financial risks and support farmers facing unpredictable natural and wildlife-related challenges.
