West Bengal ranks 2nd in PMFBY enrolment with 32 lakh farmers: CM Adhikari
Synopsis
West Bengal's BJP government is claiming a national second rank in PMFBY farmer enrolment — 32 lakh farmers covered, a Re 1 premium for small holders, and flood-hit districts leading the count. The announcement doubles as a political attack on Mamata Banerjee's TMC, which Adhikari says shut out Bengal's farmers from the scheme for years.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal ranks 2nd nationally in PMFBY farmer enrolment, according to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari .
A total of 32 lakh farmers are covered under the crop insurance scheme as of 15 September 2026 .
Flood-hit East Midnapore recorded the highest district-level enrolment at 7.23 lakh farmers.
Farmers with up to 1 hectare of land pay a token premium of Re 1 ; the state covers the rest.
Insurance companies have been directed to begin mid-season adversity assessments for August flood victims.
Bank loan-linked farmer registration deadline extended to 30 September .
West Bengal has climbed to second place nationally in farmer enrolment under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari claimed on Saturday, 19 September 2026, citing a state-wide registration drive that enrolled 32 lakh farmers under the crop insurance scheme. Adhikari made the claim in a detailed social media post, in which he also offered a district-wise breakdown of enrolments and attacked the previous government's record on the scheme.
District-wise Enrolment Numbers
According to Adhikari, farmers across West Bengal were enrolled as of 15 September, with a particularly strong response from flood-affected districts. East Midnapore led all districts with 7.23 lakh enrolments, followed by West Midnapore at 4.73 lakh, Hooghly at 1.68 lakh, and Jhargram at 42,000. The Chief Minister noted that special camps were organised at the village level from August through 15 September to facilitate enrolments in flood-hit areas.
Premium Structure and State Government's Share
Adhikari said the state government is bearing the bulk of farmer premiums from its own budget. Under the current structure, farmers owning land up to 1 hectare (2.50 acres) pay a symbolic premium of just Re 1, while those with landholdings between 1 and 2 hectares pay ₹100 per acre — with the state covering the remaining premium cost. The Chief Minister also noted that the deadline for loan-taking farmers to register through banks has been extended to 30 September.
Flood Relief and Insurance Assessment Ordered
Amid the ongoing impact of August floods across several districts, Adhikari said insurance companies have been directed to immediately initiate a 'mid-season adversity' assessment to ensure prompt compensation to affected farmers. He added that the government is committed to ensuring speedy payment to those who suffered crop losses due to the flooding.
Political Barb at Previous TMC Government
Adhikari used the announcement to take a sharp swipe at his predecessor, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). He claimed that in 2019–20, the Banerjee-led government had halted farmer registrations under PMFBY, leaving West Bengal's farming community without crop insurance protection for an extended period. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, after assuming power in the state, had reintroduced the scheme as a priority. The TMC government has not yet responded to these claims.
With the first phase of registration reportedly drawing what Adhikari described as an ‘unprecedented response,’ the government is expected to push for further enrolment ahead of the next agricultural season.
Point of View
If verified independently, would mark a genuine policy turnaround — West Bengal was a notable PMFBY holdout under TMC rule, and its re-entry at scale matters for farm welfare. But the claim of a national second rank arrives without a source citation, and the political framing — timed to the anniversary of August flood damage — makes independent verification essential before the numbers are treated as settled. The Re 1 premium model is a meaningful affordability move for marginal farmers, yet its fiscal sustainability depends on how large the state's premium subsidy bill grows as enrolment expands. The real test comes when compensation claims from flood-hit districts are actually processed.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PMFBY scheme and why does West Bengal's ranking matter?
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is the Centre's flagship crop insurance programme, providing financial support to farmers who suffer losses due to natural calamities, pests, or disease. West Bengal's claim of a second-place national ranking is significant because the state had exited the scheme under the previous TMC government in 2019–20, making its re-entry and rapid enrolment a notable policy shift.
How many farmers have enrolled under PMFBY in West Bengal?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said 32 lakh farmers are currently enrolled under PMFBY in West Bengal, with registration completed as of 15 September 2026. Flood-affected districts recorded particularly high numbers, led by East Midnapore at 7.23 lakh enrolments.
What premium do farmers have to pay under the West Bengal PMFBY model?
Farmers owning up to 1 hectare (2.50 acres) of land pay a symbolic premium of Re 1, while those with 1 to 2 hectares pay ₹100 per acre. The state government covers the remaining premium cost from its own budget.
What relief measures have been announced for August flood-affected farmers?
Adhikari said insurance companies have been directed to immediately conduct a 'mid-season adversity' assessment for farmers hit by August floods, to ensure prompt compensation. The deadline for bank loan-linked farmer registration has also been extended to 30 September.
Why did West Bengal not participate in PMFBY previously?
According to Adhikari, the previous Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government halted farmer registrations under PMFBY in 2019–20, leaving the state's farmers without the scheme's protection for an extended period. The BJP government, after coming to power, reintroduced the scheme and launched the current registration drive.
