Sweet lime growers cry foul over once a year insurance cover

Aurangabad: The sweet lime farmers are upset with the insurance companies for offering to cover to only one of the two seasons of fruiting. The announcement through a government resolution has stunned the farming community in Marathwada, where largescale horticulture cultivation is done.

As per the resolution, for a piece of land, farmers can claim loss of produce just once a year and that too from one insurance company. “Those claiming insurance for more than once, from more than one insurance company, will face legal action,” states the resolution.

Farmers told TOI that till last year, insurance cover was being provided to sweet lime, which is a bi-annual fruit, for both the seasons. However, this year, the change in the state’s stand is set to take a toll on the farmers facing hardships due to unfavourable climatic conditions.

Majority of the state’s sweetlime production comes from the drought-prone Marathwada region. A sample survey carried out earlier this year has shown that sweetlime production is likely to take a serious dip. In Marathwada, about 45, 000 hectares of land has sweet lime, out of which about 22, 0000 hectares in Aurangabad and about Rs 24, 000 hectares in Jalna district. However, the experts pointed out absence of fresh data about the dried orchards as well as newly planted saplings.

60-year old farmer Deepak Joshi told TOI, “The decision to give cover to sweetlime crop for only once a year, is arbitrary and anti-farmer.” He claimed that the decision will benefit only the insurance companies and at the same time, will deny much needed relief to the farmers.

The farmers also fuming over an additional written self-declaration form that has been sought from them along with the insurance cover forms. Another farmer, Rajendra Mulak said, “If the insurance company last year gave cover to two fruiting seasons for sweet-lime, we want to know what made them to change their stance.”

Sweet-lime tree flowers thrice a year - Mrug Bahar which flowers in June – July, Hast Bahar which flowers in the months of September – October and Ambe Bahar which flowers in the month of January – February.

Sweet-lime expert and professor at agriculture college, Sanjay Patil said, “Depending on the conditions of soil as well as availability of water, the farmers decide on the number of crops. Majority of the farmers take it once a year, comparatively lesser number of farmers are able to take it twice a year.”

Source: The Times of India