Puducherry: A crop insurance scheme for the benefit of farmers has been launched in Puducherry.
Launching the scheme here yesterday, chief minister V Vaithilingam said it would protect farmers against risks of attack from pests, drought, floods and other natural calamities.
The crop insurance scheme is being operated in collaboration with the Agricultural Insurance Corporation of India Limited. Government was meeting 50% of the premium, he said, adding, crops such as paddy, sugarcane, pulses and banana were being covered under the scheme.
A subsidy scheme to benefit paddy cultivators would also come into being during this month and the government had earmarked Rs3.5 crore for the payment of subsidy.
Precision farming would be encouraged on an extent of 1,000 hectares as it involved lesser consumption of water and augmentation of yield. Presently 100 hectares had come under this innovative farming system.


