New farm insurance scheme in offing

State agriculture minister Radha Krishna Vikhe-Patil has announced that a new insurance scheme would be formulated to cover the crop losses suffered by farmers in the state. "We are initiating discussions with all stakeholders to design an entirely new scheme as the one available now is hardly attracting any beneficiaries," Vikhe Patil said here on Monday.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of inaugural of an international symposium on `Water and agriculture' and 45{+t}{+h} annual convention of Indian Society of Agriculture Engineers, he said the government was engaging progressive and award winning farmers of the state and other stakeholders to get an insight into their requirements so that the new insurance scheme had larger acceptability.

"Recently, the government announced a Rs 1,000 crore relief package for farmers who suffered crop loss because of excessive rains and orange growers whose trees dried up in excessive summer heat. But even before the relief amount was distributed, a section of farmers in Vidarbha are now reporting big losses from frost and cold wave conditions. Whatever sum is given as relief is often inadequate and does not meet farmers' expectations while cash-strapped government incurs huge burden," said Vikhe-Patil

"So, as a better alternative, we are formulating an insurance plan that will realistically meet the farmers crop losses. The government may be able to fund the scheme by paying the premium dues to the tune of Rs 700 to Rs 800 crore," said the minister. At the same time, he said orders had been issued for fresh joint survey by the revenue and agriculture department staff to assess damage to crop from frost and severe cold wave that prevailed in Vidarbha early this month. To bring a scientific basis to crop damage assessment, data collection from all 2100 revenue circles would be done through automatic machines that would be linked to satellites, he said.

Climate change, paradigm shift in weather conditions were among the reasons for unsustainable agriculture in the region. Acknowledging media reports of high suicide rate among farmers for the tenth consecutive year, he said the PM's package, loan waiver and other relief measures had reduced distress levels to certain extent, but the government intended to do more for families and dependants of farmers who have ended their life in desperation. "Besides the compensation amount of Rs 1 lakh, the government may consider providing to the family additional support in form of free seeds, fertilizers etc," said Vikhe Patil.