In a first, milch cattle yield to be insured

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 23

Punjab has become the first state in the country to implement a production-linked insurance for indigenous milch animals on a pilot basis. The weather-linked insurance will protect the income of small and marginal farmers by compensating them in case of loss in milk yield, which normally happens with the rise in temperature.

The product was recently launched on a pilot basis, covering 1,905 buffaloes in 270 villages of Bathinda, Ludhiana, and Tarn Taran districts. Once it is successful, it will be launched across the state and later on in other parts of the country.

At Rs140 premium, Rs2,500 sum assured

• The weather-linked insurance will compensate farmers for loss in milk yield, which happens with the rise in temperature. Lactating cattle experience stress when temperature-humidity index (THI) is more than 72 and severe stress when it exceeds 88
• A premium of Rs140 per animal is being charged from participating farmers. In case THI breaches its limits, an approximate amount of Rs2,500 may be released to them as sum assured

“Milk production is severely affected by temperature-humidity index (THI). It decreases with the increase in temperature to the extent of 10 per cent. Further, during summer, indigenous dairy animals also suspend their breeding activity, affecting the milk production,” said JS Gill, Director Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).

Based on research, the period between April and September has been verified as heat stress period by the university. Lactating cattle experience stress when THI is more than 72 and severe stress when THI exceeds 88.

A premium of Rs 140 per animal is being charged from participants and in case THI breaches its limits an approximate amount of Rs 2,500 may be released to them as sum assured. According to 2019 livestock census, there were 38 lakh buffaloes and 24 lakh cows were in the state. The average daily milk production in the state is around 340 lakh litres.

“The project is being implemented through a multi-departmental coordination involving GADVASU, Punjab Agricultural University, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development Board, Punjab Energy Development Agency and Punjab State Council on Science and Technology. ICICI Lombard has been entrusted for the purpose,” said Dr Rajiv Siwach, CGM, NABARD, Punjab Regional Office.

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