Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Farmers urged to go for crop insurance

CUDDALORE: Compensation for crop losses owing to natural calamities will have to be given in conformity with government norms and there could not be any deviation on this score, said Surjit K. Chaudhary, Principal Secretary (Agriculture).

Mr. Chaudhary, who is here to monitor relief and rehabilitation measures, said that there were demands for more compensation for horticultural crops saying that it involved more expenses than agricultural crops.

According to Kattumannarkoil MLA D. Ravikumar, a farmer had to invest Rs. 2.5 lakh-Rs. 3 lakh for raising betel vines on an acre but the compensation offered, in case of damage, was hardly Rs. 4,000 an acre. It was insufficient and those farmers must be duly compensated.

Mr. Chaudhary said that the best bet for the farmers was to go for crop insurance and it was the time they did it. Insurance was available for all crops and for the purpose, the government had sanctioned Rs. 245 crore last year and of which Rs. 150 crore had gone to Ramanathapuram district alone.

Mr. Chaudhary pointed out that as per available statistics, paddy on 58,788 hectares, groundnut on 1,964 hectares, pulses on 2,596 hectares, banana on 282 hectares, chilly on 46 hectares, turmeric on 32 hectares, vegetables on 356 hectares and betel vines on 16 hectares in the district were submerged. The extent of submerged farm area might increase, he said.

When asked how much of Rs .100-crore sanctioned by the State government for relief would come to Cuddalore, Mr Chaudhary said that given the extent of damage, the district might get a substantial share.

It would take another couple of days to arrive at the exact figures, he said.

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