Bhubaneswar, 20 August (H.S.): The registration deadline for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for the Kharif 2026 season in Odisha has been extended once again, with eligible farmers now allowed to enrol under the scheme until August 31.

The extension has been granted by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare following a request from the Odisha Cooperation Department. The move aims to provide greater protection to farmers against crop losses caused by natural calamities and other uncertainties and to bring more eligible farmers under the crop insurance scheme.

During the extended period, crop insurance registration will be available only to loanee farmers in Ganjam, Kalahandi, Puri, Subarnapur, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Gajapati, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur districts. In all other districts, registration will remain open to all other eligible categories of farmers.

For Kharif 2026, crops covered under the scheme in notified areas include paddy, maize, groundnut, ragi, cotton, arhar, ginger and turmeric, among others, as per the notified crops and areas.

All eligible loanee, non-loanee and sharecropper farmers can avail themselves of the scheme. Farmers in Odisha can obtain crop insurance coverage free of cost for landholding of up to five acres. They are required to pay only ₹1 per plot towards bank account verification.

The State Government is bearing the farmers’ share of the premium, while subsidy support is being provided by the Government of India.

Loanee farmers can register through PACS/LAMPCS and the concerned bank branches. Non-loanee farmers can enrol through Common Service Centres (CSCs), cooperative banks, commercial bank branches, insurance representatives and authorised digital platforms.

Sharecroppers can also register under PMFBY by providing the required details along with the acknowledgement/consent of the landowner for the land being cultivated by them.

For assistance, farmers may contact their nearest PACS/LAMPCS, ARCS, DRCS or CDAO office, or authorised insurance representatives.

The Cooperation Department has urged all eligible farmers who have not yet registered for crop insurance to take advantage of the extended deadline and complete their registration by August 31, 2026.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda