The Hindu Business Line : <I>Weather-linked cover soon</I>

In a bid to protect coffee growers from the vagaries of blossom showers and monsoons, the Government proposes to come out with a weather-linked insurance scheme soon, said Mr G.V. Krishna Rau, Chairman, Coffee Board, on Friday.

Addressing the 113th Annual Conference of Upasi in Coonoor, Mr Rau said the pilot scheme that was launched in few districts last year was a non-starter for various reasons. The Agriculture Insurance Corporation (AIC) has recast the entire scheme by changing all parameters and the new scheme would be launched soon, he said.

Growers will be covered against three triggers under the new scheme — failure of blossom showers, backing showers and excess monsoon rains, among others. "Growers covered for these three or any of these triggers would be eligible for immediate payout," Mr Rau said. Premiums for the new scheme range from Rs 600-Rs 700 per hectare to Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000 per ha.

As the premiums are on the higher side, the Coffee Board has suggested extending subsidy of 50 per cent for the premiums under the new scheme, he said. About 46 different coffee growing zones have been identified as individual units for the scheme and rain gauges in these zones would be monitored by the public sector agencies, he said.

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