Farmers get Rs156cr from insurance

Nashik: District farmers, who had insured their crops, have got Rs 156 crore from insurance companies after their crops were damaged during monsoon.

“Insurance companies have settled the claims of the farmers. The claims were raised with the company due to heavy rainfall that damaged the kharif crop during monsoon,” a senior official from the district administration said.

“The district administration has been appealing to the farmers to insure their crop by paying a paltry premium. The central and state governments pay a larger share of the premium,” he added.

During monsoon, the district received very heavy rainfall owing to which most of the crops were damaged. Following this, the revenue and agriculture departments of the state government conducted panchanama and the reports were presented to the state government and insurance companies.

The state government had also announced an aid of Rs 8,000 per hectare for farmers whose crops were damaged by rain.

With Rs 39.2 crore for 35,000 farmers, Baglan tops the list of farmers getting the maximum insurance money.

Over 28,000 farmers in Malegaon taluka got Rs 26.86 crore is second on the list followed by Sinnar taluka where Rs 15.04 crore has been disbursed to around 16,000 farmers.

“Every farmer on an average received Rs 10,000. The insurance company takes into consideration the climate and other issues before deciding on the claim,” the official said.

“Generally, the farmers turn a blind eye towards crop insurance as premium is high and they hardly get anything in return. This year, however, proved to be different. Hence, more of us will now opt for crop insurance. We requested the government and the companies to settle the claims faster so that farmers can take the insurance on priority,” Ramesh Kale, a beneficiary from Malegaon, said.

Source: The Times of India