Date:31/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/31/stories/2008123150920300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Korai farmers eligible for crop loan: Collector

Staff Reporter

KARUR: Farmers raising korai are eligible for crop loan to the tune of Rs. 5,600 per acre. Korai growers could make use of the opportunity, informed the Collector J. Umamaheswari.

Dr. Umamaheswari has noted that the Tiruchirappalli District Central Cooperative Bank has fixed crop loan amounts and credit was being disbursed as per the schedule prepared by the bank. The bank has fixed a sum of Rs. 5,600 per acre as crop loan for korai for the farmers in Karur district.

Korai is being raised in vast tracts especially in the areas along the banks of River Cauvery. Exhorting the korai growers to avail themselves of the crop loan, Dr. Umamaheswari noted in a press release issued here on Monday that a sum of Rs. 3,600 would be given as cash during planting while the balance Rs. 1,600 would be sanctioned as the fertilizer component through the primary agricultural cooperative banks.

Already farmers in Nerur, Thalavapalayam, Kuppuchipalayam, Panchamadevi and other areas were getting loans for raising korai and those raising the grass in other areas could make use of the facility, the Collector has said.

Life insurance

She has also pointed out that farmers getting IFFCO fertilizers through the primary agricultural cooperative banks were eligible for life insurance cover to the maximum of Rs. 1 lakh.

The farmers were eligible for insurance coverage to the tune of Rs. 4,000 per bag of fertilizer bought, she has added.

The insured farmers would be covered against risks including rail and road accidents, snakebite, dog bite, fire, drowning and consuming poison resulting in death or permanent disability.

The coverage period would be for 11 months that commenced 30 days after the fertilizer bags were bought. Collector has urged the farmers to keep the bill of purchase in tact as that would be the basic document for claiming the insurance benefit.

PACB secretaries should clearly inform the farmers of the procedure for filling the required details in the receipt for IFFCO fertilizer purchase, she has pointed out.