Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Jul 5: Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim conducted a press meet on Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) here at DC office on July 5.

Addressing the press meet A B Ibrahim said, "Arecanut and pepper have now been covered under weather-based crop insurance scheme (WBCIS), among other crops. The scheme automatically covers farmers who have availed crop loan from banks as it is mandatory. Hence they need not apply. As it was voluntary for other farmers, they will have to apply through banks in which they have accounts."

Dr Yogesh, director of the horticulture department said, "The annual premium fixed is Rs 12,500. Out of this, the applicant has to pay his or her share of Rs 6,250, which is half the premium amount. The balance amount of Rs 6,250 will be borne by the government on equal sharing basis between the union government and the state government. There are about 1,95,000 farmers in the districts out of which 95,000 farmers are loanees, so they will automatically come under this insurance. The rest can voluntarily avail the insurance."

The insurance covers loss to farmers under natural calamities such as excess rain, cloud burst and violent storm. If it rains more than 20 mm per day continuously for 8 days or 50 mm for 4 days then the beneficiaries will automatically be given the claim. The government has extended the last day to July 10 for payment of premium."