Centre plans to introduce new norms for crop insurance soon

Hyderabad, Jan 10: The Centre has been planning to introduce fresh guidelines for the effective utilization of crop insurance scheme, Union Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the sustainable agriculture, crop loans and insurance conference at HICC, he said the Central government is planning massive changes in existing crop insurance scheme and preparing a special portal for quick and easy redress of insurance claims.

In his inaugural speech, Telangana Agriculture Secretary C Partha Sarathi said basic facilities have to be improved in areas that receive low rainfall and moisture. “It’s time to think on raising investments and concentrating on commercialization of agriculture,” he said.

Sarathi said the premium dates for the payment of insurance is to be decided keeping in mind the local crop patterns, unlike one cutoff date for all crops. He said insurance companies try to submit a list of beneficiaries so as to settle the claims on time.

ICRISAT Director Dr David Borghavin said crop loans and crop insurance are two vital components for sustainable agriculture.

The conference was conducted by Smart Agri Post newspaper. Its editor, Pravas Pradhan, said 50 per cent farmers should be covered under crop insurance scheme by 2019. He sought suggestions from agriculture experts for the implementation of crop insurance in an effective manner.