Great News for Tirunelveli Farmers: Crop Insurance Approved for Paddy and Banana Cultivation During Kar Season

In a significant move to safeguard the livelihood of farmers, the Union Government has permitted paddy and banana farmers of Tirunelveli district to insure their crops during the ‘kar’ season. This initiative comes as a relief for thousands of cultivators who face the risk of crop loss due to unpredictable natural calamities like floods and droughts.

Water Resources Support Farming

Thanks to the southwest monsoon, the Papanasam and Manimuthar dams are holding satisfactory water levels. The Tamil Nadu Government had already released water from the Papanasam dam in early June, kickstarting ‘kar’ season paddy cultivation across the district. With a favorable monsoon and widespread plantation of paddy and banana crops, the district administration submitted proposals seeking insurance coverage for farmers.

Universal Sompo General Insurance Selected

The government has appointed Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Ltd to manage the crop insurance for this season. Under the scheme:

• Paddy in 141 villages

• Banana in 29 firkas

can now be insured by eligible farmers who hold a Unique Farmer Identity Number.

Important Deadlines

• Last date to insure paddy crops: July 31

• Last date to insure banana crops: September 16

Farmers can pay premiums and register through:

• Nationalised banks

• Common Service Centres (CSCs) in their respective villages

Documents Required

To apply, farmers must submit:

1. Filled-in application form

2. 10.1 Adangal (season-wise land details) issued by VAO

3. Copy of first page of bank passbook (linked with Aadhaar)

4. Copy of Aadhaar card

5. Chitta and Patta copies

Alternatively, farmers can upload all documents and pay premium online at: www.pmfby.gov.in

Premium & Compensation Details

• Paddy Insurance Premium: ₹720 per acre

• Banana Insurance Premium: ₹1,801 per acre

• Compensation for Crop Loss:

  • Paddy: ₹36,000 per acre

  • Banana: ₹89,600 per acre

Compensation will be credited directly to the farmer’s bank account after an official yield loss assessment survey.

Need Help?

For more details, contact:

• Assistant Director of Agriculture in your area

• Toll-free helpline: 14447

District Collector R. Sukumar urges all eligible farmers to take advantage of this government-supported insurance scheme to protect their crops and income.

Insurance for Paddy and Banana Farmers in Tirunelveli During Kar Season