Farmers look for more clarity in new crop insurance scheme

While welcoming the State Government’s decision to implement the new crop insurance scheme: Pradan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, farmers in the district say there was a need for more clarity.

Though the new scheme promises calculation of loss at the village level and not at the firka level, the demand of farmers has been for assessment at the level of individual cultivator.

Loss

“The loss is not uniform in an entire village in the event of excessive rain or gale. Also, Agricultural Extension Officer and Revenue Department official who assess the loss do not take into account the entire amount spent for the crop. Such shortcomings need to be addressed,” Logusamy, organising secretary of the district unit of Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam said.

Under the scheme, farmers have to uniformly pay two per cent for kharif crops, 1.5 per cent for all rabi crops, and five per cent in case of annual commercial and horticultural crops.

The balance premium will be paid by the government to provide full insured amount to farmers against crop loss on account of natural calamities. Capping of premium rate has been removed to facilitate farmers to get claim against full sum insured without any reduction.

Plus point

Farmers say the mandatory use of technology under the new scheme for quicker settlement of claims was a vital plus point.