Kerala government notifies insurance schemes for farmers

Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has notified insurance schemes Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) covering crops such as paddy, plantain, tapioca and vegetables. The schemes will cover crop loss due to natural calamities.

January 15, 2020, is the deadline for farmers to join the schemes implemented jointly by the central and the state governments through PSU insurance companies.

As per the notification, the PMFBY will cover paddy cultivation in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts, besides banana and tapioca cultivations in all the 14 districts. Farmers covered by the scheme will get compensation for production losses, for disruptions in sowing and for interim losses due to flooding, hailstorm, landslide, lightning and cloud burst.

The RWBCIS will be covering paddy, plantain, cashew, mango, sugarcane, pineapple, beans, snake gourd and bitter gourd cultivations across the state besides the cultivation of winter vegetables in Idukki district. The scheme will cover losses of these crops due to floods and landslips (except in Alappuzha and Kasargod districts) and strong winds (only for banana, nutmeg, areca nut, pepper and cardamom).

In both the schemes, the farmers should inform Krishi Bhavan/bank or the insurance company about the losses within 72 hours.

More details can be availed from toll-free number 1800-425-7064.

Source: The Times of India