What risks are covered under PMFBY crop insurance?

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana covers several unforeseen perils that cause crop damage, prior to sowing and post harvesting as well. These include acts of God such as cyclones, storms, hail, lightening, and so on. Other localized calamities that are covered include pest attacks & weather vagaries such excess or deficit rainfall, excess or deficit temperature, humidity, frost, wind speed etc.

Following risks leading to crop loss are to be covered under the scheme: -

1. YIELD LOSSES (standing crops, on notified area basis): Comprehensive risk insurance is provided to cover yield losses due to non-preventable risks, such as (i) Natural Fire and Lightning (ii) Storm, Hailstorm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Tornado etc. (iii) Flood, Inundation and Landslide (iv) Drought, Dry spells (v) Pests/ Diseases etc.
2. PREVENTED SOWING (on notified area basis): - In cases where majority of the insured farmers of a notified area, having intent to sow/plant and incurred expenditure for the purpose, are prevented from sowing/planting the insured crop due to adverse weather conditions, shall be eligible for indemnity claims upto a maximum of 25% of the sum-insured.
3. POST-HARVEST LOSSES (individual farm basis): Coverage is available upto a maximum period of 14 days from harvesting for those crops which are kept in “cut & spread” condition to dry in the field after harvesting, against specific perils of cyclone / cyclonic rains, unseasonal rains throughout the country.
4. LOCALISED CALAMITIES (individual farm basis): Loss / damage resulting from occurrence of identified localized risks i.e. hailstorm, landslide, and Inundation affecting isolated farms in the notified area.