Govt mulling to amend crop insurance scheme

The government is considering a proposal to amend the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) to encourage more farmers to take crop insurance cover.     

"Based on the recommendations of the Joint Group on Crop Insurance, a proposal on Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS) has been prepared for the government's consideration," Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.     

In the proposed MNAIS, more farmers would take insurance cover, he said, adding that the modified scheme will have improved method of calculation of threshold yields, higher indemnity level, reduction in the unit area of insurance and coverage of additional risks.

NAIS, which covers all food and commercial crops, was launched in the country during the 1999-2000 Rabi season. As of now, 27 states and union territories are implementing the scheme.      

The scheme operates on an area approach basis. Farmers growing insured crops are eligible for compensation only if the yields are less than the threshold yields of the notified unit area.