Hailstorm cover for growers in Shimla, Mandi, Kullu

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 26

The state government has provided the horticultural and agri-inputs to the affected farmers under the Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS). The state government has released Rs 9.14 crore under the Disaster Relief Fund

As per an official release today, the government has extended the insurance scheme in all blocks this year. During the last two years, over 1,06,113 farmers were covered under the WBCIS for which the govt has borne 25 per cent of the premium share of Rs12.33 crore to insurance companies to compensate the losses of the farmers.

The Agriculture Insurance Company (AIC) of India, HDFC ERGO and ICICI Lombard are the implementing agencies for the hailstorm add-on cover for the Rabi season 2014-15.

During 2013-14, 64,782 farmers were covered under the WBCIS for the apple crop. The farmers had insured their 1,26,14,524 trees for which the state government had borne the 25 per cent premium share at Rs 6.17 crore for the total claims worth Rs 8.14 crore, the spokesperson said.

During the Rabi season 2014-15, the scheme has been extended for the apple crop from 17 to 35 blocks and for mango crop to 42 blocks. Citrus (Kinnow) has been covered in 14 blocks, plum in 12 and peach in four.

During Rabi 2014-15 season, the add on scheme for hailstorm will be implemented in Shimla, Kullu and Mandi districts.

In Shimla district, Theog, Jubbal and Kotkhai, Chopal, Chirgaon, Rohru, Nankhari, Rampur, Narkanda, Mashobra and Basantpur and Nagar, Ani, Banjar, Nirmand and Kullu and Karsog and Janjhelli of Mandi district will also be covered under the add-on scheme, the release added.