Govt to expedite crop damage claims for farmers

The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation, has announced that it will begin an expedited compensation process, as instructed by the Minister, for crop damages caused by Cyclone Ditwah and the recent floods that affected all 25 districts.

In a statement, the Board said that compensation will be provided for compulsory insured crops such as paddy, maize, big onions, potatoes, chilies, and soya beans. Damage assessments will be carried out before payments are made.

Since it is still difficult to fully determine the extent of the damage, farmers are requested to record the losses in the reporting books at their Agrarian Service Centres once floodwaters recede. If water levels remain high, they should inform the Agrarian Service Centre Officer or the Agricultural Research and Production Assistant.

Farmers have one month to report crop damages and are encouraged to do so quickly to receive compensation. Awareness programs are being carried out nationwide through Agrarian Service Centres, district offices of the Insurance Board, and media channels.

Farmers should also record damage to other crops in the reporting books at their respective Agrarian Service Centres.

For help or questions about reporting damages, farmers can call the Agricultural Insurance Board’s emergency hotline: 1918.

The compensation process will be jointly conducted by the Department of Agrarian Development and the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board.

Source: Newswire