PMFBY Update: Crop Damage by Wild Animals Now Covered From Kharif 2026

Key Highlights:

• Wild animal damage covered from Kharif 2026.

• Farmers must report losses within 72 hours.

• Geo-tagged photos are mandatory on the app.

• States will list eligible wild animals.

• Faster, tech-based claim settlement.

The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has approved a major update to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). From Kharif 2026, farmers will now receive compensation for crop losses caused by wild animals. This benefit will be available as an add-on cover under the local risk category.

This change aims to help millions of farmers who lose crops every year due to elephants, nilgai, wild boar, deer, monkeys, and similar wild animals, especially those living near forests and hilly regions.

Farmers Must Report Losses Within 72 Hours

Under the new system, farmers must report crop damage within 72 hours using the Crop Insurance App. While filing a report, farmers must upload:

• Geo-tagged photos of the damaged crop

• Location and time of the incident

• Short description of crop condition

This digital model will improve transparency, reduce delays, and make the process faster and more accurate, especially for farmers in remote villages who previously faced long offline procedures.

States Will Prepare the Official List of Wild Animals

Each state government will release a list of wild animals eligible for compensation under PMFBY. These lists will be prepared based on past damage data and district-wise vulnerability.

Most lists are expected to include:

• Elephants

• Nilgai

• Wild boar

• Deer

• Monkeys

States may add more species depending on local conditions.

States That Will Benefit the Most

Crop losses caused by wild animals are frequent in many regions. Farmers in the following states will see major relief:

Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim.

About Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

Launched in 2016, PMFBY is one of the world’s largest crop insurance schemes. It provides financial protection against natural calamities, weather risks, and pest or disease attacks.

Premium Rates Under PMFBY

Farmers pay very low premium rates:

• Kharif crops: 2%

• Rabi crops: 1.5%

• Horticulture/Commercial crops: 5%

The Central and State Governments share the remaining premium amount.

Why Was This Amendment Needed?

Wild animals cause serious crop losses every year, and until now, there was no formal system to compensate farmers for these damages. Farmers often guard their fields day and night and still face major losses due to elephants trampling fields or wild boars and nilgai destroying crops.

With this new add-on cover under PMFBY, farmers will finally get financial protection and compensation for such damages.

How Claims Will Be Settled

The claim process will follow PMFBY’s operational guidelines:

• Reporting the loss on the mobile app

• Verification using geo-tagged images

• State-level investigation and assessment

• Final settlement by insurance companies

This technology-based model ensures timely and transparent compensation.

A Major Relief for Farmers

The amendment in PMFBY is expected to bring huge relief to farmers struggling with wild animal-related crop losses. Beginning Kharif 2026, this new cover will strengthen agricultural security and act as a reliable safety net for millions of farmers.

Also Read: MP Releases New MSP Procurement Policy for Paddy, Jowar & Millet: Check Dates, Prices & Rules

CMV360 Says

The latest amendment to PMFBY marks a major step toward protecting farmers from increasing wild animal-related crop losses. With compensation available from Kharif 2026, farmers will receive faster, technology-based support through geo-tagged reporting and transparent assessments. This change offers long-awaited relief to farmers in forest and hilly regions, ensuring financial safety and reducing stress during crop seasons. Overall, the updated scheme strengthens India’s agricultural security system.