Bhubaneswar: The registration deadline for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for the 2026 Kharif season has been extended till August 31, offering eligible farmers in Odisha additional time to enrol under the crop insurance scheme.
The extension was approved by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare following a request from the Odisha Cooperation Department, according to an official press release. The move is aimed at enabling more eligible farmers to secure insurance coverage against crop losses caused by natural disasters and other uncertainties.
However, the extended registration period will have different eligibility conditions across districts. In Ganjam, Kalahandi, Puri, Subarnapur, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Gajapati, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur districts, registration during the extended period will be available only to loanee farmers.
In all other districts of the state, the registration facility will remain open to all eligible farmers, including loanee and non-loanee farmers as well as sharecroppers, subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme.
For the Kharif 2026 season, crops covered under the scheme include paddy, maize, groundnut, ragi, cotton, arhar, ginger and turmeric in the notified areas and for the notified crops.
Eligible farmers in Odisha can avail crop insurance coverage for up to five acres of land without paying the premium. The farmers’ share of the premium is being borne by the state government, with subsidy support from the Union government. Farmers will, however, have to pay Re 1 per plot towards bank account verification.
Loanee farmers can register through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), Large Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS) and their respective bank branches.
Non-loanee farmers can enrol through Common Service Centres (CSCs), cooperative banks, commercial bank branches, authorised insurance representatives and approved digital platforms.
Sharecroppers can also register under PMFBY by submitting the required details along with the consent or acknowledgement of the owner of the land they are cultivating.
Farmers requiring assistance have been advised to contact their nearest PACS or LAMPCS, Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies (ARCS), Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies (DRCS), Chief District Agriculture Officer (CDAO) or authorised insurance representatives.
The Odisha Cooperation Department has urged all eligible farmers who have not yet enrolled for crop insurance to complete their registration by August 31 and avail themselves of the benefits under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana
