The Department of Agriculture has urged farmers in the district to enrol their Kharif crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for the 2026-27 season, citing the possibility of below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall due to the prevailing El Nino conditions.

In a press release, Joint Director of Agriculture R. Sivakumar said maize, sorghum, groundnut, ragi and sesame had been notified under the crop insurance scheme at the firka level in the district. The Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited has been selected as the implementing agency.

Loanee farmers cultivating the notified crops in the notified firkas can enrol through the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Societies (PACCS) or the nationalised banks from which they have availed themselves of crop loans. Non-loanee farmers can enrol through Common Service Centres, PACCS or nationalised banks by submitting an Adangal certificate for the current Fasli year issued by the Village Administrative Officer, along with copies of the first page of the bank passbook, Aadhaar card and Chitta.

The sum insured per acre has been fixed at ₹37,000 for maize, ₹33,900 for groundnut, ₹17,500 for ragi, ₹15,600 for sesame and ₹18,700 for red gram (tur). The premium payable by farmers is ₹740 per acre for maize, ₹374 for sorghum, ₹578 for groundnut, ₹350 for ragi and ₹312 for sesame.

The last date for enrolment under the scheme is September 16. Farmers can obtain further information from the nearest Assistant Director of Agriculture’s office, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Society, nationalised bank or through the PMFBY website.

Published - July 31, 2026 06:33 pm IST