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Title : Need to include all perennial crops in Kerala under the Agriculture Insurance Scheme.
SHRIMATI C.S. SUJATHA (MAVELIKARA): The National Agricultural Insurance Scheme was introduced during the year 1999-2000 in Kerala. The crops covered under this Scheme in the State presently are paddy, tapioca, banana, turmeric and ginger. In Kerala, farmers have been switching over to commercial and horticultural crops. Cash crops are the mainstay of the agricultural sector in the State. The State’s agriculture sector is dominated by perennial crops and the climatic advantage is less vulnerable to production instabilities, but production loss is significant largely due to pest and disease incidences.
Hence, I urge upon the Government to include other major horticultural perennial crops such as coconut, cashew, arecanut, rubber, pepper, coffee, tea, cardamom and vegetables to be covered under the National Crop Insurance Scheme. Thank you.