Date:28/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/28/stories/2008052858000100.htm

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Crop insurance sought across Erode district

Karthik Madhavan

No response to administration’s plea to National Agriculture Insurance Corporation

— File Photo: M. Govarthan

Ravaged: A banana field destroyed in the squall that hit parts of Erode.

ERODE: A few days ago, banana farmers in and around Perundurai lost their crop to squalls. They say about one lakh trees that were only days away from harvesting were destroyed. In Bhavani Sagar too, elephants ravaged banana fields.

The Perundurai farmers are fortunate in a sense because their crops are covered by the National Agriculture Insurance Corporation (NAIC) under the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme.

But the Bhavani Sagar farmers are not eligible for such cover, as the public sector insurance company does not recognise banana farmers other than those in Perundurai, Bhavani, Sathyamangalam and Gobichettipalayam blocks for compensation.

The same is true of other crops, as the company has notified crops area wise and in some cases firka wise. In Erode district, the Corporation recognises only 16 crops, in only notified areas.

For example, the turmeric crop is recognised in only 14 of the 20 blocks. Turmeric farmers in Dharapuam, Kundadam, Moolanur and Gobichettipalayam blocks have no cover.

The Erode district administration sources say that in order to correct this anomaly, it wrote as early as a year ago to the Corporation seeking to notify the banana crop for the entire district. In the letter it sought to reason that Erode district has a significant place in banana cultivation.

In the 2006-07 financial year alone, the crop was cultivated on 5,324 hectares, the letter stated. Neipoovan, mondan, nendran, red banana, robusta, poovan and G9 are the varieties cultivated.

The letter added: “Erode district, being situated in the rain shadow area of the Western Ghats, is prone to high radiation.

The area is vulnerable to high velocity winds from April to July and also during the north-east monsoon period. And, as the crop is high on risk, it is in need of insurance cover.”

The sources said there has been no response to the letter from the Corporation.