All perils, including fruit rot disease (Kole Roga) in arecanut, resulting from excessive rainfall, will be covered under the new Weather-based Crop Insurance Scheme, said Deputy Director of Horticulture H.R. Yogish.
Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Mr. Yogish said that district-specific weather parameters have been worked out by the district level committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner.
Among these parameters include rainfall of more than 50 mm every day for more than four days or rainfall of over 20 mm every day for a period of eight or more days in the monsoon season between July and September.
Mr. Yogish said that regardless of crop loss due to such rainfall, the farmer shall receive insurance payout.
This insurance amount will be in addition to the compensation that he would receive because of damage caused due to gusty winds and lightning during the monsoon.
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said that arecanut and black pepper have been notified as horticulture crops in Dakshina Kannada under the insurance scheme.
All those who have taken crop loan are bound to enrol under the insurance scheme.
Joining this insurance scheme is optional for those who have not taken crop loan.
The bank or the cooperative society that has given the loan has to enrol the farmers who have taken crop loans from them.
For an insurance of Rs. 1.25 lakh per hectare of arecanut per season, the premium amount will be Rs. 12,500, of which the farmer has to pay Rs. 6,250.
The remaining amount will be contributed by the Union and State governments.
Similarly, for Rs. 37,500 per hectare insurance coverage for black pepper, the premium amount will be Rs. 3,750.
Of the 95,000 farmers who have taken loan, only 1,000 farmers have so far enrolled under the insurance scheme.
The last date for enrolling under the scheme is July 10, Mr. Ibrahim said.
