Rajasthan tops country with over 10 million hectares under crop insurance
Jaipur, Aug 5
Rajasthan has emerged as the national leader in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, providing financial protection to millions of farmers against crop losses caused by natural calamities and adverse weather conditions, officials said on Wednesday.
The state has enrolled more than 6.258 million farmers under the scheme, the highest number in the country, making PMFBY a crucial safety net for Rajasthan's farming community.
During 2025-26, more than 10 million hectares of Rajasthan's total gross cropped area of around 28.2 million hectares have been brought under crop insurance through PMFBY, the highest coverage among all states.
The insured area accounts for 36 per cent of the state's gross cropped area, exceeding the national average of 32 per cent.
Rajasthan ranks among the top states in terms of crop insurance coverage, behind only Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in percentage terms.
Several districts have recorded extensive insurance coverage during 2025-26.
In Churu, more than 1.335 million hectares were insured, in Barmer more than 1.148 million hectares were insured, in Bikaner more than 0.927 million hectares were insured.
Insurance coverage represents 77 per cent of the gross cropped area in Churu, 69 per cent in Barmer, and 47 per cent in Nagaur, reflecting the growing acceptance of the scheme among farmers.
Over the five-year period leading up to 2025-26, more than 5.21 crore hectares were insured under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme in Rajasthan.
During this period, farmers contributed more than Rs 4,650 crore as their premium share, the highest in the country, more than 18.81 crore insurance applications were enrolled, insurance claims exceeding Rs 18,189 crore were paid to eligible farmers.
The scope of crop insurance expanded significantly during 2024-25 and 2025-26, with the state government continuing efforts to extend insurance coverage to more farmers.
Across the Kharif and Rabi seasons, more than 7.53 crore crop insurance policies were issued, covering crops valued at nearly Rs 1 lakh crore.
Under these policies, insurance claims amounting to more than Rs 4,498 crore have been disbursed.
Driven by the state government's initiatives, PMFBY has evolved into a strong financial safeguard for lakhs of farmers, protecting them against risks arising from erratic weather, excessive rainfall, drought, hailstorms, and other natural calamities.
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) provides financial assistance to farmers in the event of crop losses caused by natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, pests, and diseases.
The scheme offers crop insurance at affordable premium rates, with the premium shared by farmers, the state government, and the Central Government.
In the event of insured crop damage due to notified risks, eligible farmers receive financial compensation through insurance claims, helping protect their livelihoods and reduce income uncertainty.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some good news for our farmers! Barmer and Churu having such high coverage is encouraging. My father farms in Jodhpur and he got his claim paid within 2 months last year. Better than before but still things can improve.
Numbers look good on paper, but ground reality is different. Farmers in my village still complain about delayed claim settlements and complex documentation. Also, many small farmers who need this the most are not even aware of how to enroll. Government should do more awareness campaigns in remote areas. 🙏
Interesting to see the scale of this program. Rajasthan's desert and semi-arid regions definitely need robust crop insurance. The claim payout of ₹18,189 crore over 5 years shows the government is serious about supporting farmers through climate challenges.
My uncle in Nagaur says at least crop insurance gives him some peace of mind after the bad monsoon last year. But he also mentioned that the premium is still a burden for small farmers. Government should consider waiving premiums for the most vulnerable ones. Independent farmers are the backbone of our economy 🌾
Good initiative but I wish more farmers would be covered in the eastern Rajasthan districts like Kota and Bundi. The scheme is great on paper, but the awareness is still low in some regions. Also, private insurance companies involved need better monitoring - I've heard of claim denial cases for minor technical reasons.
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