Cotton to be considerd under National Insurance Scheme

Chandigarh, May 22 (UNI) Cotton crop, which is prone to high risk, will be considered to be covered under the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme in Haryana during Kharif 2008.

This was decided in a meeting of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) presided over by Haryana Agriculture Director Sumita Misra to review the performance under National Agriculture Insurance Scheme.

She said the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) was implemented in Haryana state from Kharif, 2004. The Scheme is compulsory for loanee farmers and optional for non-loanee farmers and a provision of 10 per cent subsidy had been made for small and marginal farmers.

The blocks for insurance coverage were identified on the basis of the area under the particular crops. Presently, Maize, Arhar and Bajra are being covered in Kharif season and Gram and Mustard in Rabi season.

She said during Rabi 2005-06, a total number of 78,461 farmers were covered under the scheme. Notified crops were insured for the value of 95.03 crore. An amount of Rs 1.90 crore were collected as premium and Rs 15.28 crore granted as claims for insurance.

During Kharif 2006, a total number of 53,482 farmers were covered under the scheme. Notified crops were insured for the value of 39.99 crore. An amount of Rs 1.89 crore was collected as premium and Rs 2.83 lakh granted as claims for insurance. During Rabi 2006-07, a total number of 45,261 farmers were covered under the scheme.

Notified crops were insured for the value of Rs 35.43 crore.

An amount of Rs 71 lakh was collected as premium and Rs. 29.31 lakh granted as claims for insurance.

She said during Kharif 2007, a total number of 4151 farmers were covered under the scheme. Notified crops were insured for the value of Rs. 4.32 crore.

An amount of Rs 14.85 lakh was collected as premium. During Rabi 2007-08, a total number of 1,16,451 farmers covered under the scheme. Notified crops had been insured for the value of Rs 203.99 crore. An amount of Rs 4.08 crore was collected as premium and claims are under process.

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