September 19, 2023

Agriculture Department changes crop insurance guidelines

The Department of Agriculture amended the state crop insurance system to allow applicants to collect compensation for crop loss if the farmer dies or is paralyzed and bedridden.

Farmers are required to list their applicants when applying for the program, said a Sept. 24 order issued by the department listing changes to program guidelines. In the above scenarios, the candidate can request and collect the amount.

This provision will not apply in any other situation.

Paddy crop losses due to pest attacks have been included in the program as required by a government order on October 27, 2017. It is already in effect, an official said.

The authority to recommend crop loss compensation in the case of crops other than paddy is as follows: Deputy Director of Agriculture (up to ₹10,000), Deputy Director of Agriculture (from ₹10,001 to ₹50,000), Chief Agriculture Officer (₹50,001 to ₹4 lakh), Director of Agriculture (₹4,00,001 to ₹5 lakh) and Administrative Committee (above ₹5 lakh).

In the case of paddy, it is as follows: Deputy Director of Agriculture (up to ₹10,000), Deputy Director of Agriculture (from ₹10,001 to ₹50,000), Chief Officer of Agriculture ( from ₹50,001 to ₹4,000), Director of Agriculture (₹4,00,001 to ₹10 lakh) and Administrative Committee (above ₹10 lakh).

The changes were made on the basis of proposals submitted by the Director of Agriculture in January and June of this year.

In 2017, the state government had restructured the crop insurance scheme by ensuring coverage of major crops and increasing compensation.