A scheme every Bihar farmer should understand before the deadline passes
Fasal Sahayata Yojana Bihar is one of the most searched farmer schemes in Bihar right now, and also one of the most misunderstood. If you farm in Bihar, if you grew a notified crop this Kharif season, and if bad weather damaged your crop, this guide is for you.
By the end of this article, you will know exactly what this scheme is, how it is different from crop insurance, who can apply, which crops are covered in Kharif 2026, how much assistance you can get, which documents you need, how to apply online step by step, how to check your application and payment status, and where to get help if something goes wrong.
One promise first. Nothing in this guide is guessed. Wherever possible, every fact has been checked against the Cooperative Department’s official e-Sahkari portal, the Agriculture Department’s DBT portal, and reports of the government’s approval for Kharif 2026. Where something is not yet confirmed, we say so clearly, so that you do not act on a false hope.
Let us start from the beginning, and build the full picture one step at a time.
What is Fasal Sahayata Yojana
Fasal Sahayata Yojana is a state scheme of the Government of Bihar. Its full name is Bihar Rajya Fasal Sahayata Yojana. It is run by the Cooperative Department of the Government of Bihar. Its purpose is simple. When the actual yield of a notified crop falls below a fixed threshold yield, the farmer gets financial assistance.
Pay attention to one word here — assistance. This scheme gives help. It is not an insurance policy from an insurance company. The farmer does not pay any premium. The application is completely free. The money is sent directly to the farmer’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer, or DBT.
The scheme has been running since 2018. At that time, Bihar chose a different path from the central crop insurance scheme and created its own assistance scheme. Since then, the scheme has been applied every year for the Kharif and Rabi seasons. Every season, the government decides which crops will be notified in which district or panchayat. Notified means included in the scheme’s coverage. You can get the benefit only if your crop and your area are in the notified list.
One more important point. This assistance is not equal to the full market value of your crop. It is assistance paid at a fixed rate. Its purpose is to give the farmer some support in a time of crisis, so that the farmer can prepare for the next crop and does not fall completely under the burden of debt.
Fasal Sahayata Yojana is NOT PM Fasal Bima Yojana — understand this difference
This is where the biggest confusion on the internet happens. Many websites call this scheme “crop insurance”. Some even call it PM Fasal Bima Yojana directly. That is wrong. The two schemes are different. Understanding this difference matters, because if you apply thinking it is the wrong scheme, you will waste your time and you may even miss the application for the right scheme.
PM Fasal Bima Yojana is the central government’s insurance scheme. In that scheme, the farmer pays a premium, the insurance company takes the risk, and when there is a loss, the claim comes from the insurance company. The situation in Bihar is different. Bihar has created its own assistance scheme.
In Fasal Sahayata Yojana, there is no insurance company. There is no premium. There is no policy number. The Government of Bihar pays assistance directly to the farmer from state funds, through the Cooperative Department. The loss is assessed on the basis of the Crop Cutting Experiment, which is explained in detail further below.
Another difference is coverage. PM Fasal Bima Yojana applies in the rest of the country, while Fasal Sahayata Yojana is only for the farmers of Bihar. If you are a farmer outside Bihar, this scheme is not for you. If you are a farmer in Bihar and somebody tells you to “get crop insurance done, pay the premium”, understand that the person is not giving you correct information about this scheme. In this scheme, there is no question of paying any premium at all.
We also have separate information on PM Fasal Bima Yojana on our portal, so that you can compare the two schemes yourself. Its link is given at the end of this article.
The whole scheme at a glance — quick-facts table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Bihar Rajya Fasal Sahayata Yojana (BRFSY) |
| Nodal department | Cooperative Department, Government of Bihar |
| Scheme type | State government crop assistance scheme — NOT an insurance scheme |
| Who it is for | Raiyat, non-Raiyat and partly Raiyat-cum-non-Raiyat farmers of Bihar |
| Premium | Zero — the farmer pays no premium |
| Application fee | Zero — the application is free |
| Assistance rate | ₹7,500 per hectare if yield loss is up to 20%; ₹10,000 per hectare if yield loss is more than 20% |
| Maximum area | Maximum 2 hectares per farmer |
| Maximum assistance | Up to ₹15,000 for loss up to 20%; up to ₹20,000 for loss above 20% |
| Payment method | DBT — directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank account |
| How to apply | Online — e-Sahkari portal (esahkari.bihar.gov.in) |
| Farmer registration | Registration on the Agriculture Department DBT portal (dbtagriculture.bihar.gov.in) is required first |
| Kharif 2026 last date to apply | 31 October 2026 (as per the report of the government approval) |
| Official helpline | Sugam IVRS — 1800-1800-110; Cooperative Department — 0612-2200693 |
Which crops are covered in Kharif 2026
The Government of Bihar approved the implementation of this scheme for the Kharif 2026 season on 20 August 2026. According to that approval, eight crops have been brought under the scheme for this Kharif season. These crops are Aghani paddy, Bhadai maize, soybean, Aghani potato, Aghani brinjal, Aghani tomato, Aghani cabbage, and makhana.
Now it is important to understand that every crop does not apply in the whole of Bihar. Some crops are notified at the panchayat level and some at the district level. For a panchayat-level crop, your panchayat must be in the notified list. For a district-level crop, your district must be in the notified list.
The table below makes this clear:
| Crop | Level | Notified coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Aghani paddy | Panchayat level | All 38 districts of the state |
| Bhadai maize | Panchayat level | 25 identified districts |
| Soybean | District level | 3 districts |
| Aghani potato | District level | 14 districts |
| Aghani brinjal | District level | 15 districts |
| Aghani tomato | District level | 12 districts |
| Aghani cabbage | District level | 14 districts |
| Makhana | District level | 10 districts |
Note that the numbers above are counts of districts, but for panchayat-level crops your panchayat must be in the notified list. It is not enough that your district is notified. So before applying, always check the list of eligible gram panchayats on the official portal. If your panchayat is not in the list, applying for that crop will not help.
In addition, Nagar Panchayat and Nagar Parishad areas in the concerned district have also been brought within the scope of the scheme. That means farmers near towns are not completely excluded, provided they meet the other conditions.
The full district-wise list for each crop can be seen on the departmental website. If you are unsure about the status of your panchayat or district, the best way is to ask the Block Cooperative Extension Officer of your block.
How much assistance do you get — the full calculation
Now we come to the question that is on every farmer’s mind first — how much money will I get? In this scheme, the assistance amount depends on how much the actual yield of your crop fell below the fixed threshold yield.
If the actual yield is found to be lower than the threshold yield by up to 20 percent, the farmer gets assistance at the rate of ₹7,500 per hectare. If the shortfall is more than 20 percent, the assistance rate becomes ₹10,000 per hectare.
This assistance is given for a maximum area of 2 hectares. That means a farmer can get a maximum of ₹15,000 when the shortfall is up to 20 percent. And when the shortfall is more than 20 percent, the maximum assistance can be ₹20,000.
Let us understand this with an example. Suppose a farmer has sown Aghani paddy on 1.5 hectares, and after the Crop Cutting Experiment it is found that in his panchayat the yield shortfall is more than 20 percent. Then he will get 1.5 hectares multiplied by ₹10,000, which is ₹15,000. If the shortfall in the same case had been up to 20 percent, he would have got 1.5 multiplied by ₹7,500, which is ₹11,250.
Another example. If a farmer has cultivated 3 hectares and the shortfall is more than 20 percent, even then the assistance will be paid only for 2 hectares, that is a maximum of ₹20,000. No assistance is given under this scheme for area above 2 hectares.
One point needs to be made very clear here. This assistance is not decided by looking at one farmer’s crop alone. It is decided from the Crop Cutting Experiment data at the panchayat or district level. That means if your personal crop was damaged, but the official data for your panchayat does not show a yield shortfall up to the fixed limit, you will not get assistance. This is the most important and the least understood rule of this scheme.
Who can apply — the full eligibility conditions
To apply under this scheme, a farmer must satisfy several conditions. If even one condition is missed, the application can be rejected. So read this list carefully before applying.
First condition — the farmer must be a permanent resident of Bihar. Second condition — the farmer must have cultivated a notified crop, and his area must be notified for that crop. Third condition — the farmer must be registered on the Agriculture Department’s DBT portal. If registration is not done, registration must be completed first, and only then can the application for this scheme be made.
Fourth condition — the farmer must have an Aadhaar number. During the application, verification is done through an OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Fifth condition — the farmer’s bank account must be linked with Aadhaar, because the money will be sent through DBT to that account only.
Now let us talk about the farmer category. Three categories of farmers can apply under this scheme. The first category is Raiyat farmers, meaning farmers who own the land they cultivate. The second category is non-Raiyat farmers, meaning farmers who cultivate somebody else’s land, also called tenant or sharecropper farmers. The third category is partly Raiyat and partly non-Raiyat farmers, meaning farmers who cultivate some land of their own and some rented land.
There is also one special rule that farmers registered under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi can apply under this scheme only in the Raiyat or partly Raiyat-cum-non-Raiyat category, as stated in the official application guidance. If you are a PM Kisan beneficiary and you are thinking of applying in the non-Raiyat category, first check this rule on the portal.
At the time of application, the farmer has to give the name of the crop and the sown area, called rakba. Land details also have to be given, such as Khata Number, Khesra Number, Thana Number and Computerised Jamabandi Number, wherever applicable. Non-Raiyat and partly Raiyat-cum-non-Raiyat farmers have to upload the prescribed self-declaration countersigned by a Kisan Salahakar (Farm Advisor) or Ward Member, and by the Agriculture Coordinator. In addition, during the application process, the geo-coordinates of the cultivated land have to be provided through an Android mobile phone.
Who cannot apply
There are some situations in which an application cannot be made, or an application will be rejected. For example — if your crop is not in the notified list, there is no point in applying. If your area is not notified for that crop, the application will not be accepted either. If you are not a permanent resident of Bihar, you are not eligible.
If you have not registered on the Agriculture Department’s DBT portal and you try to apply directly for this scheme without registration, the application will not move forward. If the information given in your application is found to be wrong or misleading, the application can be rejected. So be very careful while filling the crop name, rakba and land details.
Another common mistake is that farmers write the area of their entire farming, whereas under the scheme only the area of the notified crop is counted. If you have sown both notified and non-notified crops in the same field, write only the area of the notified crop.
How crop loss is assessed — the Crop Cutting Experiment
To understand this scheme, understanding the Crop Cutting Experiment is the most important part. Many farmers think that because their crop was damaged, they will get the money. But in this scheme, that is not how it works.
First, the government fixes a threshold yield for every crop. Threshold yield means the expected average yield of that crop in that area under normal conditions. After that, at harvest time, the Crop Cutting Experiment is done in selected fields. In this experiment, the crop of a fixed area is cut and measured, and the actual yield is calculated.
If the actual yield is found to be lower than the threshold yield, the percentage of shortfall is calculated. On the basis of this percentage, it is decided whether the farmer will get assistance in the ₹7,500 per hectare category or the ₹10,000 per hectare category.
Yield rate data from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics is also used in this process. The data of applicant farmers is field-verified. After that, the gram panchayats where a shortfall in yield is found are declared eligible. Only the applicant farmers of those panchayats are then asked to upload further documents.
So applying does not mean that the money is confirmed. Application is only the first step. Money will be paid only when the official data of your panchayat proves a yield shortfall and your application is found correct in verification.
Which documents do you need — keep everything ready before you apply
Before starting the application, keep the following things ready, so that you do not get stuck in the middle.
First, the Agriculture Department’s Kisan Registration Number. The application cannot start without it. Second, the name of the sown crop and the rakba. Third, land details — Khata Number, Khesra Number, Thana Number and Computerised Jamabandi Number, wherever applicable.
Fourth, the self-declaration form filled in the prescribed format. This form has to be uploaded by farmers of all categories. There is a separate format for Raiyat farmers, a separate one for non-Raiyat farmers, and a separate one for farmers of both categories. Download the correct format only from the official portal. A wrong format taken from a shop or an agent can stall your application.
Fifth, for Raiyat farmers, an updated land ownership certificate or a recent revenue receipt. This is needed after the selection of eligible panchayats, when the selected panchayats’ Raiyat and partly Raiyat category applicants are asked for this document. Sixth, the Aadhaar-linked mobile number, because OTP verification will happen on this number. Seventh, the Aadhaar-linked bank account, in which the money has to come.
Some older guidelines also give file-size limits for a photo, voter ID, a scanned copy of the first page of the bank passbook, and a residence proof. For example, a photo less than 50 KB, and identity proof and passbook copy less than 400 KB in PDF format. But these limits can change from time to time. So treat the limit shown on the portal at the time of application as final.
How to apply online — step-by-step guide
Now we come to the most useful part — how to apply. Follow the steps given below, one by one.
- Step 1 — First complete the farmer registration on the Agriculture Department’s DBT portal. If you are already registered, note down your Kisan Registration Number and keep it ready. If you are not registered, register at dbtagriculture.bihar.gov.in.
- Step 2 — Go to the Cooperative Department’s e-Sahkari portal, esahkari.bihar.gov.in. Open the application link for Bihar Rajya Fasal Sahayata Yojana (Kharif 2026).
- Step 3 — Enter your Kisan Registration Number and search. Your basic details will come up automatically.
- Step 4 — Verify with the OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- Step 5 — Fill in the notified crop name and the sown area, or rakba.
- Step 6 — Upload the land details and the self-declaration form.
- Step 7 — Submit the application and download the acknowledgement receipt and keep it safe.
- Step 8 — After the Crop Cutting Experiment, wait for an SMS or portal notification about the eligibility of your gram panchayat.
- Step 9 — If your panchayat is found eligible, upload the required documents through the link sent to your registered mobile number.
- Step 10 — When asked, submit the geo-coordinates of your cultivated plot through the designated mobile application.
One important point — the last date to apply is stated as 31 October 2026. But do not wait for the last day. In the last days, the load on the portal increases, and there is no time left to correct even a small mistake. Try to complete the application well before time.
If you face difficulty in applying online — ways to get help
Not every farmer has a smartphone or internet. Keeping this in mind, the government has also kept ways to help.
The first way — the Sugam IVRS helpline. The toll-free number given on the official portal is 1800-1800-110. You can call this number and get help with the application.
The second way — meet the Block Cooperative Extension Officer or the Executive Assistant of your block. They help in filling the application.
The third way — the Cooperative Department helpline number 0612-2200693. If you cannot reach a number, use the complaint section given on the portal.
Remember, nobody can ask you for money in the name of help. This scheme is completely free. If any person asks for money in exchange for the application, understand that he is a cheat.
How to check application status and payment status
After submitting the application, the biggest question is — where has my application reached, and when will the money come? For this, the facility to see the status is given on the official portal itself.
On the e-Sahkari portal, there is an option to see the payment status for Bihar Rajya Fasal Sahayata Yojana. There you can see the status with your Kisan Registration Number or application details. In addition, the list of eligible gram panchayats can also be seen on the portal. This list is important because if your panchayat is not in the eligible list, you will know that this time no assistance will be given.
Another way is to keep checking your bank account. The money comes through DBT directly into the account, so a bank SMS or a passbook entry will also show the payment. But by looking at the bank account alone, you cannot know the status of the application. So checking the status on the portal is more reliable.
One honest point needs to be made here. At the time of writing this article, we have not personally tested the current working of every payment-status link on the portal. The design of the portal keeps changing from time to time. So if a link does not open, search for the option “Payment Status for Bihar Rajya Fasal Sahayata” from the main page of the portal, or ask on the helpline. Never enter your registration number or Aadhaar number on an unknown website.
When will the money come — the truth about the payment timeline
There is no single fixed answer to this question, and any website that gives you a confirmed date should not be trusted. The payment process passes through many stages — application, Crop Cutting Experiment, verification of yield data, selection of eligible panchayats, document checking, Aadhaar authentication, and then payment through DBT. If any of these stages is completed late, the payment gets delayed.
One example will make this clear. According to news reports, on 11 September the Cooperative Department sent ₹104.46 crore of assistance through DBT to 1,17,708 farmers for the Kharif 2024 season. These beneficiaries were spread across 714 panchayats. This example shows that payment can happen much after the crop season, because the full verification process takes time. This does not mean that the Kharif 2026 money will also come equally late. It is only an example, which shows that no single fixed date of payment is announced in advance.
So the right way is to complete the application on time, keep your documents correct, and keep checking the status on the portal. If your panchayat is found eligible and your application is correct in verification, the money will come to your Aadhaar-linked account.
Common mistakes that get applications rejected
First mistake — writing the wrong crop or wrong rakba. Second mistake — choosing the wrong category, like choosing non-Raiyat even though you own the land, or the reverse. Third mistake — uploading the self-declaration form in the wrong format. Fourth mistake — giving a bank account that is not linked with Aadhaar. Fifth mistake — not keeping the application acknowledgement receipt safe.
Sixth mistake — applying on the last day. Seventh mistake — paying an agent to get the application done. Eighth mistake — applying on a fake website. Always remember, the real portal is esahkari.bihar.gov.in, and the farmer registration portal is dbtagriculture.bihar.gov.in. Do not trust any other link.
Protect yourself from fraud — always remember these points
Fraud also happens in the name of this scheme. If somebody says, “Give ₹500, I will confirm your name”, he is lying. If somebody says, “Deposit the premium”, that is also a lie. In this scheme, there is no premium, no application fee, and no need for any agent.
Never give your OTP, Aadhaar number or bank details to any unknown person. Apply only on the official portal. If somebody sends a WhatsApp link or a shortened link and asks you to apply, do not click on it. Go directly to the official portal by typing its address in the browser.
How this scheme relates to other Bihar farmer schemes
Fasal Sahayata Yojana is not the only scheme. Bihar farmers can take the benefit of many schemes together, provided they satisfy the conditions of each scheme. For example, the Bihar Krishi Input Anudan Yojana gives a subsidy on crop inputs like seeds and fertiliser, while Fasal Sahayata Yojana gives assistance on crop loss. The purpose of the two is different, so taking the benefit of one does not automatically end the benefit of the other. But the rules of every scheme are different, so eligibility must be checked separately for every scheme.
Similarly, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi is a separate income support scheme. It has no direct relation with Fasal Sahayata Yojana, except for the special rule about category for PM Kisan registered farmers, which is mentioned above.
Frequently asked questions
What is Fasal Sahayata Yojana?
It is a Bihar Government state scheme in which a farmer gets assistance at the rate of ₹7,500 or ₹10,000 per hectare when the yield of a notified crop falls below the fixed limit. It is an assistance scheme, not an insurance scheme.
Do I have to pay any premium under this scheme?
No. The farmer does not have to pay any premium under this scheme. The application is also free. The full cost is borne by the Bihar Government.
What is the maximum assistance one farmer can get?
Assistance is given for a maximum of 2 hectares. On a yield shortfall of up to 20 percent, the maximum is ₹15,000, and on a shortfall of more than 20 percent, the maximum is ₹20,000.
Can tenant farmers cultivating rented land apply?
Yes. Non-Raiyat farmers, meaning tenant or sharecropper farmers, can also apply, provided they submit the prescribed documents and the countersigned self-declaration form.
What is the last date to apply for Kharif 2026?
According to the report of the government approval, the last date for online application for Kharif 2026 is 31 October 2026. Even so, applying early without waiting for the last day is the wise thing to do.
Which portal is correct for the application?
The correct portal for the application is the Cooperative Department’s e-Sahkari portal, esahkari.bihar.gov.in. For farmer registration, the Agriculture Department’s DBT portal is dbtagriculture.bihar.gov.in.
If my crop was damaged, will I definitely get the money?
No, it is not confirmed. You will get assistance only when the official Crop Cutting Experiment data of your panchayat proves a yield shortfall and your application is found correct in verification.
How will the money be paid?
The money is sent through DBT directly to the farmer’s Aadhaar-linked bank account. There is no provision for cash payment.
Official links
- e-Sahkari portal (Cooperative Department, Government of Bihar): https://esahkari.bihar.gov.in/
- Agriculture Department DBT portal — farmer registration: https://dbtagriculture.bihar.gov.in/
- Our guide to Bihar Krishi Input Anudan Yojana 2026: https://gramsuvidha.co.in/en/bihar-krishi-input-anudan-yojana-2026-guide/
- Our guide to PM Fasal Bima Yojana 2026: https://gramsuvidha.co.in/en/pm-fasal-bima-yojana-2026-en/
Final word
Fasal Sahayata Yojana is genuine help for the farmers of Bihar, but only when you understand it correctly, apply on time, and apply through the correct portal. Remember the three most important points — first, this is an assistance scheme, not insurance. Second, the application is free and there is no premium. Third, the last date to apply is 31 October 2026, so do not delay.
If you found this information useful, pass it on to other farmers in your village. And if you face any problem in the application, call the helpline 1800-1800-110 or meet the cooperative officer of your block.
Private information portal, not a government website — this article is for information only. For the final and updated information, always check the official portal.
