Aizawl: The Mizoram government will roll out a comprehensive crop insurance scheme covering five key crops to shield farmers from financial losses caused by natural disasters and pests and diseases, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister PC Vanlalruata informed the Assembly on Wednesday.
The scheme will be implemented under the state’s flagship ‘Bana Kaih’ (Handholding) initiative and aligned with the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Vanlalruata said the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has initiated steps to operationalise the central government’s scheme in the state.
A State Level Coordination Committee on Crop Insurance (SLCCCI), constituted for implementing PMFBY, has notified five crops for coverage — paddy, ginger, Mizo chilli, cabbage and brinjal (eggplant).
The minister said the scheme will initially be introduced in select districts with high production potential and later expanded in phases to other parts of the state.
“While the initial phase focuses on selected high-potential areas, the government plans to extend coverage to additional districts in a phased manner,” Vanlalruata told the House.
Under the notified plan, ginger farmers across all 11 districts will be covered. Paddy growers in Champhai, Kolasib and Mamit districts will be eligible, while Mizo chilli farmers in Serchhip, Saitual and Hnahthial districts will be brought under the scheme. Brinjal and cabbage growers in Serchhip district will also be covered.
To ease the financial burden on farmers, the state government will provide substantial premium subsidies through the Bana Kaih scheme. Small and marginal farmers holding less than one hectare of land will pay only 10 per cent of the insurance premium, with the remaining 90 per cent borne by the state.
Farmers with landholdings between one and five hectares will receive an 80 per cent premium subsidy, while those owning more than five hectares will be entitled to a 50 per cent state contribution towards the premium, the minister said.
Vanlalruata credited Chief Minister Lalduhoma for prioritising the introduction of crop insurance in the state.
Earlier this month, the minister had said that a tender process had been completed and TATA AIG General Insurance Company had been selected as the insurer for the scheme.