1, November 2015
The State Government has decided to continue the implementation of the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojna) during Rabi, 2015-16 seasons on the existing patterns in selected units of the State after getting administrative approval from the government of India.
The Scheme is applicable to all the farmers growing wheat and barley crops and Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. will be the implementing agency. It will cover 44 units including Tehsils and Sub-Tehsils of Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan and Una districts of the State for wheat crop and 20 units of Chamba, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Solan districts for barley crop.
The risks covered under the scheme would be natural fire and lightning, storm, hailstorm, cyclone, typhoon, tempest, hurricane, tornado, drought, dry spells and pests/diseases etc. However, losses arising out of war and nuclear risks, malicious damage and other preventable risks have been excluded from the ambit of this scheme.
The Scheme will be on compulsory basis to loanee farmers availing Seasonal Agricultural Operation (SAO) loans from the financial institutions i.e. commercial banks, cooperative banks, regional rural banks and primary agricultural cooperatives (PACs) for the insured crops within the stipulated period whereas for the non-loanee farmers, it is optional.
The level of indemnity for wheat and barley crops has been kept at 80 percent of the average yield (Threshold Yield).
In case of Loanee farmers, sum insured would be at least equal to amount of loan advanced. For the loanee farmers, in such cases, where amount of crop loan availed comes out to be more than either the value of threshold yield or 150 percent of average yield, normal premium rates (lower of flat rate or actuarial rate) will be applicable on the full amount of the loan availed, as the full amount of loan is to be compulsorily insured.
The small and marginal farmers are eligible for 50 percent government subsidy on total premium on the insurable crops under National Agriculture Insurance Scheme from 10 to 50 percent (i.e. 45 percent as State Share and 5 percent as Central Share). The small and marginal farmers will require paying only 50 percent of the total premium payable.
The cut-off date for accepting the crop insurance proposals from farmers at PACs/Bank branches have been fixed as 31st January, 2016 for non-loanee farmers and 31stMarch, 2016 for loanee farmers.
The declaration will have to be submitted by the end of the following month of the loaning/accepting proposals i.e. within one month from the cut off dates for accepting the crop insurance proposals in case of non-loanee farmers. The final seasonal cull-off date for non-loanee farmers have been fixed 28th Febaruary, 2016 and for loanee farmers as 31st May, 2016. The cut-off date for submission of yield data by the state government to the implementing agency has been fixed as 30th September, 2016 for both the crops.
The claims will be settled only on the basis of yield data furnished by the State Government based on requisite number of crop cutting experiments conducted under General Crop Estimation Survey and not on any other methods like Annawari/Paisawari or declaration of drought etc.
The State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC), The Lead Bank Managers, the Cooperative Banks and Agriculture Insurance Co. of India Ltd. (Implementing Agency) will take immediate necessary action to ensure the implementation of the scheme in the State.
The Implementing Agency i.e. Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. will ensure that claims are paid at the earliest after release of State Government share. Litigations, if any, for delay in payment of claims and if any other, will be the sole responsibility of the implementing agency.
The banks will also ensure that the claims amount is released or disbursed to the beneficiaries within a fortnight from the date of receipt of claims amount from the implementing agency. The Convener, District Level Bankers Committee will monitor the progress of this scheme in its periodical meeting time to time.