Weather-based insurance aims to protect mango farmers amid premium worries
Tirupati:The newly introduced ‘Restructured weather-based crop insurance scheme’ for mango cultivation is expected to benefit around 69,800 farmers holding 58,450 hectares of plantations in Chittoor district.
Designed to provide coverage based on acreage, the scheme mandates a premium of `1,750 per acre and a compensation of `35,000 per acre in the event of crop loss.
The district has installed 93 automatic weather stations at electrical substations to ensure accurate data collection. Registration and premium payments commenced this week. The final date for enrolment is Dec 15.
Deputy director of horticulture, Madhusudan Reddy, said the scheme covers four critical weather parameters — rainfall, temperature, humidity and wind — during the monitoring period from Dec 15 to May 31 next year. However, the full payout will happen if all the four factors deviate significantly from normal conditions. If the parameters are not met, farmers will not receive the compensation and the premium will not be refunded, he clarified.
Despite the promising benefits of the scheme, several farmers voiced concerns over the high premium costs. "I have five acres of mango orchards. To pay Rs 8,750 upfront is a huge burden for a farmer like me", said Ramesh Naidu, a farmer from Bangarupalem. "What guarantee do we have that these weather conditions will align for compensation? It feels risky".
Another farmer, S. Venkatesh from Chittoor, remarked, "The insurance amount sounds attractive, but the premium is not affordable for everyone. Many of us rely on seasonal income and cannot spare so much at once."Chittoor district collector Sumit Kumar also announced a crop insurance scheme for tomatoes during the Rabi season. "Farmers can insure their tomato crop for `25,000 by paying a premium of `1,250 per acre. Its enrollment deadline is Dec 15," he stated.
Farmers with crop loans can pay the premium through their banks, while others can register for this through the Common Service Centers (CSC), Gram Sachivalayam Digital Assistants, or the National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP).
"For any clarification, farmers may consult their local horticulture officers, Rythu Seva Kendra staff, or contact IFFCO Insurance agent at 9704993284", the collector said.
The scheme’s success depends on farmers' participation. Initial reactions suggest hesitation due to financial constraints.
