Maharashtra ropes in Swiss Re to streamline crop insurance schemes

Proposes village level surveys to assess crop loss instead of circle level through satellite imaging

Amid a rising in suicides by farmers and delays in settlement of insurance claims, the government in Maharashtra has brought in a reinsurance company, Swiss Re, to improve crop insurance schemes.

The government proposes village-level surveys for crop loss instead of the circle, through satellite-based imaging.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said Swiss Re will implement a pilot project covering five crops, including jowar and cotton. The location will be decided soon. "It will be completely a satellite-based survey, which will zero in to the individual fields," he said.

Swiss Re director G Satish Raju, who was present at the CM's briefing, said they'd bring in some more insurance companies in the pilot project. Efforts will be made to hasten the processing of farmer claims. The aim, he said, would be subsequently plan to cover a large number of villages, so that the state can become a role model for others.

A state government official said natural calamities had added to agrarian distress. ''A robust crop insurance would provide an instrument to face this situation. No product (in crop insurance) which satisfies farmer aspirations really exists. Swiss Re has responded to the  government's invitation and we are hopeful,'' he said.

Fadnavis also said the government was conducting "vulnerability mapping" of farmers in Yavatmal and Osmanabad districts, with the aim to curb a spate of reported suicides.