Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 26 2009:
Along with launching the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme in Manipur for the first time today, farmers in Imphal West and Bishnupur district are set to receive the benefits of the scheme in the first phase of its implementation.
A joint venture of the Government of India, Government of Manipur and Agriculture Insurance Company of India, the insurance scheme will cover only the high yielding variety seeds.
But it has provision for protection of farmers from financial loss they may suffer as a result of natural calamity.
For destruction of crop, the scheme would provide insurance to the farmers at the rate of Rs 27,600 for every one to two paris of land.
Farmers have to pay only Rs 621 as premium for this insurance scheme.
Inaugurating the launch of the Insurance scheme as chief guest during a function at the conference hall of Agriculture Department at Sanjenthong here today, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister N Biren expressed confidence that the scheme would ameliorate the difficulties of the poor farmers in the State.
The Minister also expressed desire for extension of the scheme to all the districts of the State.
Stating that in view of the drought like situation prevailing in the State efforts are being made under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister to complete the earth dams being constructed by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the Minister observed that in such a critical situation co-ordination among the Minor Irrigation, CADA, IFC and Agriculture Department is essential.
Agriculture Minister N Loken who presided over the function informed the gathering that arrangement has been made for supplying 300 water pumps sets to the farmers to combat drought and steps have been taken up for construction of earth dams at 200 different places.
The Department has also made necessary measures for plantation of seeds over one hectare of paddy field, the Agriculture Minister said, adding that the Agriculture Insurance Scheme which was launched today would bail out the farmers in Imphal West and Bishnupur district from the loss of crop failure.
Assuring that the scheme would be extended to other districts in phase-wise manner, the Minister also called upon the farmers to enrol themselves for reaping the benefit of the scheme.