PMFBY Crop Loss Claim: Report in 72 Hours and Track It
Crop damaged? How to claim under PMFBY: report within 72 hours on 14447 or the Crop Insurance app, how the claim is calculated, tracking status and complaints.
In this article
If hail, a flood in your field or unseasonal rain on harvested crop has damaged your fields and you are insured under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the most important rule is time: report the loss within 72 hours through the Crop Insurance app, the Krishi Rakshak helpline 14447, your insurer, bank or agriculture office, and keep the docket number. Area-wide losses such as drought are assessed automatically, but field-level losses are paid only if they are reported on time.
PMFBY is active for 2026-27. As of October 2026, it is implemented by 25 states and union territories in Kharif 2026, with ₹12,200 crore allocated in the Union Budget 2026-27. West Bengal rejoined from Kharif 2026 and Bihar plans to rejoin from Rabi 2026-27 (PIB, August 2026). If your state runs its own crop scheme instead, the rules below may not apply; check with your agriculture office.
Who can claim
- Loanee farmers with a seasonal crop loan or standard KCC, whose premium the bank deducts.
- Non-loanee farmers who enrolled voluntarily through a bank, CSC, insurer's agent or the portal.
- Tenant farmers and sharecroppers, if they enrolled with the documents your state accepts.
You can claim only for a notified crop in a notified area for the season in which you paid the premium. Losses before sowing, after the crop is removed from the field (except the post-harvest window), and losses from war, riots, theft or preventable causes are not covered.
What losses are covered and how each is claimed
| Type of loss | Examples | Do you need to report? | How it's assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standing crop, area-wide | Drought, dry spell, flood, pests, disease | No individual report needed | Crop-cutting experiments and technology (YES-TECH) for the insurance unit |
| Prevented sowing | Sowing failed due to adverse weather | Notified by state | Up to 25% of sum insured |
| Localised calamity | Hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloudburst, natural fire | Yes, within 72 hours | Field-level survey |
| Post-harvest loss | Cyclonic or unseasonal rain on "cut and spread" crop, up to 14 days after harvest | Yes, within 72 hours | Field-level survey |
| Wild animal attack, paddy inundation | Added under modalities announced in November 2025 from Kharif 2026 | Yes, within 72 hours where your state has notified it | Field-level survey |
Premium you paid (for context)
| Crop | Maximum farmer premium |
|---|---|
| Kharif foodgrain and oilseeds | 2% of sum insured |
| Rabi foodgrain and oilseeds | 1.5% of sum insured |
| Commercial and horticultural crops | 5% of sum insured |
The Centre and states share the rest of the premium 50:50 (90:10 in North-Eastern and Himalayan states).
Worked example: an area-based yield claim
Suppose a farmer insured 2 hectares of Kharif paddy with a sum insured of ₹60,000 per hectare.
- Premium paid: 2% × ₹60,000 × 2 ha = ₹2,400
- Threshold yield for the insurance unit: 20 quintals per hectare
- Actual yield measured by crop-cutting experiments: 14 quintals per hectare
- Shortfall: (20 − 14) ÷ 20 = 30%
- Claim per hectare: 30% × ₹60,000 = ₹18,000
- Total claim: ₹18,000 × 2 = ₹36,000
This is illustrative. The threshold yield, sum insured and actual yield are fixed for your insurance unit by the state and insurer. Your individual yield does not change an area-based claim, which is why localised losses must be reported separately.
Documents to keep ready
- PMFBY application or policy number (on your receipt or SMS)
- Aadhaar and the bank passbook of the account on the application
- Land record or tenancy/sowing certificate you enrolled with
- Photos of the damaged crop with date and location (geo-tagged if possible)
- The docket or ticket number from your loss intimation
How to report crop loss, step by step
- Within 72 hours, report the loss using any one channel:
- The Crop Insurance app (official app of the National Crop Insurance Portal)
- Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline 14447
- Your insurance company's toll-free number (on your policy receipt)
- Your bank branch or the agriculture department office
- Give the details: name, mobile, application/policy number, crop, survey/khasra number, date and cause of loss, and approximate area damaged.
- Note the docket number. It is your proof that you reported on time.
- Do not harvest or clear the damaged crop until the survey is done, unless you photograph it thoroughly first.
- Survey: the insurer is expected to appoint a loss assessor within 48 hours and complete the assessment within about 72 hours after that (insurer timelines vary by state notice). Be present, and ask for a copy or photo of the survey sheet.
- Claim calculation and payment: claims are calculated on the National Crop Insurance Portal through the DigiClaim module and paid through PFMS directly into your bank account.
How to track your claim
- On pmfby.gov.in or the Crop Insurance app, check your application and claim status with the application or policy number.
- Call 14447 with your docket number for an update.
- Check your bank statement for the credit. If the bank account is closed or not Aadhaar-seeded, the payment can fail, so keep it active.
The 12% delayed-claim rule
PMFBY guidelines require insurers to pay 12% interest on claims settled late. A July 2025 Lok Sabha answer said that from Kharif 2024 this penalty is calculated automatically on the portal, and the Agriculture Minister said it would be credited to farmers. The government has also allowed claims to be paid on the central share even when a state's share of premium subsidy is delayed.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Missed the 72-hour window | Report anyway, in writing, explaining why; ask the agriculture office to forward it. Acceptance is not guaranteed. |
| Surveyor never came | Call 14447 with the docket number and write to the district agriculture officer |
| Claim lower than expected | Ask for the survey report or the insurance-unit yield data; check the sum insured and area on your policy |
| Enrolled area or crop wrong | Raise with the bank or CSC that enrolled you, with land records |
| Claim approved but not credited | Check bank account status and Aadhaar seeding; ask the insurer for the payment reference |
For general claim-rejection patterns across insurance, see insurance claim rejected: reasons.
How to complain
- Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline (14447): register the grievance and note the ticket number. The government reports over 26 lakh grievances handled since its launch in January 2024.
- Insurance company grievance officer: write with your policy and docket numbers.
- District Level Grievance Redressal Committee: submit a written complaint through the district agriculture officer if unresolved.
- State Level Grievance Redressal Committee and then CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in) for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
What not to do
- Do not pay anyone to "pass" your claim. Intimation, survey and settlement are free.
- Use only official channels: pmfby.gov.in, the Crop Insurance app and 14447. Fake apps and callers asking for OTPs or bank PINs are a fraud.
- Do not wait for the survey before reporting. The 72-hour clock starts from the event.
If crop loss has made repaying a crop loan hard, read about the Kisan Credit Card loan and the interest subvention scheme, which affect what you owe and how restructuring works.
Key takeaways
- PMFBY is active in 2026-27; check whether your state implements it for your season.
- Report localised and post-harvest losses within 72 hours via the Crop Insurance app, 14447, insurer, bank or agriculture office, and keep the docket number.
- Area-wide yield claims are calculated as (threshold yield − actual yield) ÷ threshold yield × sum insured.
- Claims are paid via DigiClaim directly to your bank; insurers owe 12% interest on delays.
- Escalate 14447 → insurer → district grievance committee → state committee / CPGRAMS.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I have to report crop loss under PMFBY?
For localised calamities such as hailstorm, landslide, inundation, cloudburst or natural fire, and for post-harvest losses from cyclonic or unseasonal rain, you must report within 72 hours of the event. Area-wide yield losses from drought, floods or pests are assessed through crop-cutting experiments and do not need individual intimation.
How do I report crop damage for PMFBY?
Report through the Crop Insurance app, the Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline 14447, your insurance company's toll-free number, your bank, or the agriculture department office. Note the docket or ticket number you receive as proof of intimation.
How is the PMFBY claim calculated?
For area-based yield loss, the claim is (threshold yield minus actual yield) divided by threshold yield, multiplied by the sum insured. For localised and post-harvest losses, the insurer assesses the percentage of damage on your individual field.
How can I check my PMFBY claim status?
Check on pmfby.gov.in or the Crop Insurance app using your application or policy number, or call 14447 with your docket number. Claims are paid directly into the bank account linked to your application.
What happens if the insurance company delays my PMFBY claim?
Under PMFBY rules, insurers must pay 12% interest for delayed claim settlement. From Kharif 2024, this penalty is calculated automatically on the National Crop Insurance Portal and, the government has said, credited to farmers.
How much premium does a farmer pay under PMFBY?
Farmers pay a maximum of 2% of the sum insured for Kharif foodgrain and oilseed crops, 1.5% for Rabi foodgrain and oilseed crops, and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops. The Centre and states pay the rest.
This article is for general education and is not personalised financial, tax or legal advice. Rates and rules are as of 25 Oct 2026; confirm current terms with your lender, AMC or a qualified adviser.
