Crop Insurance for Rabi 2026 in Maharashtra: How to Apply Under PMFBY, Premium of 1.5%, and Why the ₹1 Scheme Ended
Rabi crop insurance under PMFBY costs farmers 1.5% of the sum insured for food and oilseed crops, 5% for commercial crops. The ₹1 scheme ended in 2025. How to apply.
Photo: PJeganathan / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Maharashtra farmers insuring rabi crops pay 1.5% of the sum insured for food grains and oilseeds and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops. You can enrol online on pmfby.gov.in, at a Common Service Centre (CSC) or through your bank. The rabi enrolment deadline is fixed by the state’s notification, usually in December.
The ₹1 crop insurance that Maharashtra offered from 2023 is no longer available.
What changed in Maharashtra
In April 2025 the state cabinet replaced the “insurance for ₹1” model with a revised scheme in which farmers pay the standard PMFBY premium: 2% for kharif, 1.5% for rabi and 5% for cash crops, according to Lokmat Times. Claims under the revised scheme are based mainly on crop cutting experiments. The state also announced a separate agricultural infrastructure scheme of ₹5,000 crore a year for five years.
Premium you pay
| Crop type | Farmer’s share of premium |
|---|---|
| Kharif food grains and oilseeds | 2% of sum insured |
| Rabi food grains and oilseeds (wheat, gram, jowar, mustard) | 1.5% |
| Commercial and horticultural crops (onion and others) | 5% |
The rest of the premium is paid by the Centre and the state.
How to apply
- Keep ready your Aadhaar, bank passbook, 7/12 extract, crop sowing details and, increasingly, your AgriStack Farmer ID.
- Apply on pmfby.gov.in (Farmer Corner), at a CSC, or at your bank. Farmers with crop loans are often enrolled through their bank; ask if you want to opt out.
- Choose the notified crop and village, pay the premium and save the policy receipt.
How to claim
Report crop loss from a localised calamity such as hailstorm or inundation within 72 hours on the Crop Insurance app, pmfby.gov.in, the helpline 14447, or through your bank or agriculture office. Keep photos and the complaint number. Area-wide yield losses are assessed through crop cutting experiments, so you do not need to report those individually.
With rain hitting parts of Madhya Maharashtra this week, standing rabi sowings and harvested kharif produce are at risk. Read how to claim for crop damage after unseasonal rain.
Deadlines, notified crops and sums insured differ by district and are fixed by the state’s notification. Confirm with your bank, CSC or taluka agriculture office.
Frequently asked questions
Is ₹1 crop insurance still available in Maharashtra?
No. Maharashtra replaced it in 2025 with a revised scheme where farmers pay the standard PMFBY premium.
What is the PMFBY premium for rabi crops?
1.5% of the sum insured for food grains and oilseeds, and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops.
What is the last date for rabi crop insurance?
It is set by the state’s notification each season, usually in December. Check with your bank, CSC or taluka agriculture office.
How do I report crop loss for insurance?
Within 72 hours, through the Crop Insurance app, pmfby.gov.in, helpline 14447, your bank or the agriculture office.
