The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), launched in 2016, has emerged as a critical financial lifeline for India's farming community — and in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district, its impact is now measurable in record numbers. This year, 81,000 farmers in Dhamtari have enrolled in the crop insurance scheme, covering 84,277.75 hectares — the highest figure recorded in the last five years.

Record Enrolment in Dhamtari

The 81,000 enrolled farmers represent an increase of 9,300 farmers over the previous period, according to Agriculture Officer Monesh Sahu. Enrolment has grown by approximately 10 percent compared to last year, as confirmed by Dhamtari Collector Avinash Mishra. Officials attribute the surge to heightened awareness among farmers about climate-related crop risks and the financial safety net the scheme provides.

Notably, a review of five-year records confirms this is the highest number of crop insurance policies issued in the district in that period — a signal that grassroots acceptance of formal risk management is deepening in one of Chhattisgarh's key agrarian belts.

What PMFBY Means for Farmers on the Ground

Before the scheme's introduction, crop failures caused by floods, drought, or unseasonal rainfall routinely pushed small and marginal farmers into debt cycles with little recourse. The PMFBY provides compensation for crop loss due to natural calamities, helping farmers recover financially and prepare for the next sowing season without depending on informal moneylenders.

Several beneficiaries in Dhamtari said the scheme had directly helped them survive crop loss events. One farmer said, 'The central government has implemented many schemes for farmers. As for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, it is an extremely important scheme. Whenever a natural disaster strikes and crops are damaged, the central government provides compensation. I have personally benefited from it. It is a very good scheme.'

Another farmer noted, 'The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is proving to be a boon for small and medium-scale farmers. I, too, benefited from this scheme when my crops were destroyed, which helped me overcome financial hardship.'

District Administration's Assessment

Dhamtari Collector Avinash Mishra confirmed that the volume of crop insurance policies issued this season has exceeded last year's, marking a rise of around 10 percent. Agriculture Officer Monesh Sahu added that the upward trend reflects farmers' growing confidence in the scheme and their increasing willingness to formally manage agricultural risk.

This comes amid broader concerns about erratic monsoon patterns and climate variability, which have made income protection increasingly important for farming households across central India.

Broader Context: PMFBY's National Footprint

Launched in February 2016, the PMFBY replaced earlier crop insurance schemes with a unified, premium-subsidised framework. The Centre and state governments jointly bear the bulk of the premium, with farmers paying a fraction — typically 2 percent for kharif crops and 1.5 percent for rabi crops. The scheme has faced implementation challenges in some states, including delays in claim settlements, but districts like Dhamtari demonstrate that where awareness campaigns are active, enrolment can reach meaningful scale.

With enrolment at a five-year high in Dhamtari, the district's experience could serve as a reference point for other agrarian districts in Chhattisgarh looking to expand coverage in the coming kharif and rabi cycles.