The NDA govt seems to have realized that all the crop insurance schemes of the past have failed the farmers of the country. From the Crop Insurance Scheme (CCIS) of 1985 to National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) of 1999 -2000 to “National Crop Insurance Programmes (NCIP)of 2013-14, the farmers have remained uncovered.
How to reach out to the farmers in terms of crop insurance is the theme of National Conference on Crop Insurance taking place in Bhopal currently. It aims to discuss the strategies for empowering farmers through an augmented crop risk management in the form of crop insurance schemes.
Speaking on the occasion Union Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh said on Tuesday “the issues of rising premium rates under existing Crop Insurance Programme are being examined and we have to make efforts for bringing the premium rates at a reasonable level which could be affordable to the farmers”.
Agriculture continues to be the mainstay of Indian economy. It contributes 16 percent of GDP, provides 52 percent of employment and sustains more than 60 percent of population, produces all the food & nutritional requirements of the nation, important raw materials for some major industries, Singh said.
We in the Ministry have started discussion with States and all stakeholders on further improving upon the insurance product which would not only insure the farmers against yield losses but also provide security for their income. There are various other issues under consideration for implementation of various crop insurance schemes, he said.
The minister was confident that the seminar would help to get necessary inputs to evolve a product which is most acceptable to all stakeholders.” I am confident that the deliberations which have taken place in the convention would be helpful in designing the crop insurance schemes which are able to effectively protect the interests of the farming community, he added.