The Himachal Pradesh Government had decided to implement Weather Crop Based Insurance Scheme (WBIS) for the year 2015, under which apple, mango, kinnow, peach and pulm in 74 development blocks of the State were covered during current financial year.
Under the WBIS, the actuarial premium rates for apple is 8.9% whereas 8.5% for mango, kinnow, peach and pulm fruits out of which 4.8% of the total premium is to be borne by the farmers concerned and remaining will be borne by the State and Central Government in 50:50 ratio.
Horticulture department official said that for the apple fruit crop, age group of plant for insurance cover is 5-15 and 15-40 years with a total insured sum per tree is Rs. 350 and Rs. 700 respectively for which total premium per tree is Rs. 31.15 and Rs. 62.30 for two different age groups of plants. Out of this farmer’s share will be Rs. 16.80 and Rs. 33.60 per tree for the said two age group of plants.
He said that the scheme for apple insurance would be applicable from 21 December, 2015 to 31 July, 2016. Similarly, the insurance cover for mango would be applicable from 21 December, 2015 to 30 June, 2016, from 15 February, 2016 to 30 June, 2016 for kinnow, 1 March, 2016 to 30 June, 2016 for peach and 1 March 2016 to 30 May, 2016 for plum fruits.
He said the schemes was admissible for both loanee and non loanee farmers of the State. He said that weather parameters included in the insurance cover were chilling requirement, temperature fluctuation deficit/excessive rainfall, high wind velocity and frost injuries.
Official said that Reference Weather Stations (RWS) have been installed in various strategic locations all over the State to record meteorological data for insurance crops. He said that the services of six insurance companies have been requisitioned for the coverage of fruit crops in the potential belts of the State so that maximum number of farmers could drive the benefit of the policy.
