Govt for Comprehensive Agriculture Insurance scheme

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 29 (UNI) The government was seriously considering a Comprehensive Insurance scheme simultaneously for both farmers and crops, Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran told the Assembly today.

Replying to a calling attention by K C Joseph (Congress), he said insurance companies had been invited for initial talks in this regard.

Stating that 25 items of crops were included in the existing State Crop Insurance scheme, he said the insurance protection covers the loss of crops due to natural calamities and threat from wild animals.

Mr Ratnakaran said during the last financial year, 12,673 farmers were enrolled as members in the scheme and a sum of Rs 52.22 lakh had been distributed as compensation to them.

The National Agricultural Crop Insurance had included only six crops from Kerala, he said, adding as per the scheme, a sum of Rs 14.91 crore were distributed among 45,272 farmers till date.

Moving the motion, Mr Jospeh asked for a change in the criteria for calculating the loss of crops, otherwise, the farmers would not get the eligible compensation.

UNI