Deadline for crop insurance enrolment extended till July 10

 With farmers remaining nonchalant about weather-based crop insurance scheme (WBCIS), the authorities concerned are hard selling the scheme by extending the deadline for enrolment up to July 10.

On Tuesday, H R Yogesha, deputy director of horticulture, told reporters that the deadline for farmers in Dakshina Kannada district to enrol under the scheme has been extended as against the earlier deadline of June 30, with crops like arecanut and black pepper already being notified for the same.

Elaborating, Yogesha said, “As is the criterion, arecanut and black pepper growers in 230 gram panchayats, who have availed of bank loans will be invariably enrolled under the scheme. It is optional for other farmers, who have not borrowed from banks. TATA AIG General Insurance Company Ltd, has been identified to provide insurance cover.

The insurance cover and its allied matters are as follows – arecanut will be insured for Rs 1.25 lakh a hectare (2.5 acres) with the premium fixed at Rs 12,500. The farmers will have to pay half the premium of Rs 6,250, while the government will bear the rest of the amount. For black pepper, it will be Rs 37,500 a hectare with premium at Rs 3,750. The farmers’ share will be Rs 1,875 matching that of government.”

Rain and disease

Yogesha said, if the district receives 50 mm rain for four days continually and 20 mm for a week and arecanut is hit by ‘kole roga’ (fungus), the farmers stand to benefit. The period of rain will be calculated from July to September 15.

Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, who was also present during media briefing, said, “When average rainfall is taken into account, it is possible that the afore mentioned criterion will surely benefit farmers. As per available information, the district has received 98 mm of rains in the last four days, while in June, 943 mm of rain was received against 941 mm seasonal rain.”

The farmers can claim the benefit in the case of excess temperature too, said the deputy commissioner.

Yogesha clarified that the authorities will decide on the relief amount adducing at the extent of rainfall with the help of rain gauges fixed at gram panchayats. In the case of cloud burst, landslide and hailstorm too the farmers can claim the benefit by apprising respective banks and insurance companies with details on extent of damage. The relief will be decided by a committee of experts including Revenue, Horticulture and Agriculture Departments and also the insurance company.

Reacting to a query, Ibrahim said that, beginning from June 24, only 1,400 against 95,000 loanee farmers have enrolled under the scheme. In all, there are 1.95 lakh farmers in the district.

‘Fasal Bima’

Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, paddy and horticulture crops are notified for farmers to avail benefit by enrolling by July 31.

Joint Director of Agriculture H Kempegowda said, “For Dakshina Kannada district, grain and horticulture crops cultivated in rain-fed areas are notified under the plan. The relief will be decided on available data of yield.”

28 GPs devoid of rain gauges

While the Dakshina Kannada district administration is banking on rain gauges installed at gram panchayats to study the extent of rainfall to decide on crop relief under weather-based crop insurance scheme, not all panchayats are equipped with the facility. Of the total 230 GPs, 202 are equipped with rain gauges by Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, with 28 remaining to be equipped, the concerned officials told the media.