June 27, 2019
Bangla’s crop insurance scheme to benefit farmers
The State Government has announced a crop insurance scheme, in collaboration with the Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC), for the 2019 kharif season. The scheme, called Bangla Shashya Bima (BSB), is applicable for farmers in 15 districts, viz., Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Medinipur, Malda, Hooghly, Nadia, Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Birbhum, Purulia, Dakshin Dinajpur, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas.
The crop insurance scheme would be free of cost for the farmers since the government will pay the full premium.
Aim of scheme: To protect farmers from natural disasters, and to ensure a steady income in case of unstable market prices.
Insurable crops: Aman paddy, aus paddy, jute, maize
Insurers: Concerned gram panchayat for aman paddy and concerned block administration for the other crops have been selected as the insurers
Eligible farmers: Compulsory for all farmers taking loans (granted or applied for), and even those not taking loans can avail of the insurance
Four stages of payment of insurance: For any losses suffered during planting, during cultivation, during the period post-cutting when crops are lying in the field, and for adverse weather situations
Amount: As decided by the State Government, calculated per hectare
Last date: Documents have to be submitted by August 31, 2019
