NAIS in Current Kharif Season for Maize, Paddy, Ginger and Potato Crops

SHIMLA, India, July 16 -- The Government of Himachal Pradesh issued the following news release:

A spokesman of Agriculture Department said here today that National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) would remain applicable for maize, paddy and potato crops during the current Kharif season, besides the scheme would also be introduced for ginger crop of Sirmaur district on experimental basis. The decision was taken in a meeting of State level Crop Coordination Committee held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture.

He said that those farmers who were interested to take loan on maize, paddy, potato and ginger crops during the Kharif season could insure their crops by 30th September, 2012 and added that the scheme was mandatory for such farmers. He further said that the scheme was optional for non-loanee farmers, for whom the last date for insurance was 31 July, 2012.

He said that this scheme had proved beneficial to farmers in compensating for the losses incurred on account of natural calamities and other causes. He said that the insurance cover on general coverage for maize crop was Rs.15,900 and maximum Rs. 29,700 per hectare, Rs. 12,200 and Rs. 22,900 respectively for paddy, Rs. 1,00 ,400 for potato and Rs. 3,87,200 per hectare for ginger. The rate of premium according to the insurance cover on maize was 2.50 percent and 4.60 percent, 2.50 percent and 5.20 percent for paddy, 1.80 percent on potato and 5.10 percent on ginger. 50 percent subsidy on premium was being given to small and marginal farmers, he added.

He urged the farmers to avail the benefits of the scheme and added that they could contact the nearest Primary Agriculture Cooperative Sabhas, Rural and Commercial Banks or Agriculture Extension Officers, Agriculture Development Officers or Block level officers of the department for getting their crops insured.

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