Karnataka Govt to release crop insurance claims to farmers

Bangalore, July 3 (UNI) Karnataka government has ensured Rs 138 crore settlement of crop insurance to 2.01 lakh farmers for the year 2006-07 and payment will be made within 10 days, Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Kashempur said today.

Speaking to newsmen here he said the amount covered both medium and long term crops claims. The government had already released Rs 10 crore two months ago towards short term crop claims covering over one lakh farmers, he added.

He said the state government and the centre would share 50 per cent each of the claims. The money would be paid through Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited and the survey of claims had already been completed, he added.

Replying to queries he said Jewargi taluk in Gulbarga district topped the list of claims with Rs 49 crore out of total claims of Rs 83 crore. This was mainly due to failure of tur dal in large scale, he added.

He stressed the need for more effective insurance covering various crops and said the centre should initiate measures in this regard. He also said the state government had urged the centre to include 13 more districts under the Vidarbha package to provide relief to farmers to prevent suicide.

UNI