He said the scheme covered loss due to region-specific natural disasters like floods, hailstorms, landslides and cyclones.
The scheme is a compulsory for farmers with crop loan. However, other farmers too can join the scheme voluntarily. They will have to open a separate account in the bank for their region in order to avail of the facilities.
Details of the insured crops will have to be submitted within 48 hours. Small and marginal farmers will have a concession of 10 per cent on the insurance payment.
July 31 is the last date to apply for insurance for rice and August 31 for other crops, he said.
The crops listed for 2010 pre-monsoon season are: Ragi (rain-fed), rice (rain-fed), rice (irrigated) gram (rain-fed), horse gram (rain-fed) and groundnut (rain-fed)
Published 06 July 2010, 16:46 IST