Letters: Insuring growth

This refers to Anindita Dey’s article “National agriculture insurance scheme to be modified for farmers’ protection” (March 1). Mahatma Gandhi said if India really wants to grow, then, first, its villages must grow. Today, the agricultural insurance market is on the threshold of spectacular growth. Support measures proposed by the government in the horticulture sector; the potential of organic farming; the growing importance of aromatic and medicinal plants; bio-diesel plants; contract farming; corporate farming and integrated insurance and so on are likely to put agricultural insurance on the right track. Agricultural insurance, though, is likely to be demand driven in future. The government’s efforts to support and finance insurance products and/or facilitate a congenial environment for meaningful risk management would enhance the potential and credibility of agricultural insurance. It is expected that an increased number of farmers will be able to manage risk in agricultural production in a better way and will succeed in stabilising their farm incomes, particularly in times of crop failure.

Jayesh Mohanbhai Savani, Gandhidham

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