THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 20, 2026
In a major relief for thousands of cultivators across Odisha,
the deadline for registration under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
(PMFBY) for the Kharif 2026 season has been extended to August 31, giving
farmers additional time to secure insurance protection against crop losses
arising from natural calamities and other uncertainties. The extension follows
a request from the Odisha Cooperative Department and is aimed at ensuring that
no eligible farmer is left outside the crop insurance safety net.
The extension is expected to provide a crucial opportunity
for farmers who are yet to enrol under the scheme and strengthen the
government’s efforts to maximise coverage during the current Kharif season.
PMFBY is open to both loanee and non-loanee farmers, besides sharecroppers,
with the government taking significant steps to make crop insurance more
accessible and affordable.
Under the scheme, farmers can avail themselves of free crop
insurance coverage for up to five acres, with only Rs 1 per plot being charged
for bank account verification. The state government bears the farmer’s premium
share, while the Centre provides subsidy support, reducing the financial burden
on cultivators while offering protection against crop-related risks.
However, registration rules during the extended period vary
across districts. In Ganjam, Kalahandi, Puri, Subarnapur, Baragada, Bhadrak,
Gajapati, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur, registration during the extension period
will be restricted to loanee farmers. In the remaining districts, all eligible
farmers can register under the scheme.
The notified crops covered under PMFBY for Kharif 2026 include paddy, maize, groundnut, ragi, cotton, arhar, ginger and turmeric. Farmers can complete their registration through PACS/LAMPCS, cooperative and commercial banks, Common Service Centres (CSCs), insurance representatives and approved digital platforms. Sharecroppers are also eligible to enrol, subject to obtaining the consent of the landowner.
To facilitate the enrolment process and assist farmers, the government has deployed officials across ARCS, DRCS and CDAO offices. Farmers who are yet to register have been urged to make use of the extended window and complete the process before the August 31 deadline.
