The district will have a total of 17 automatic weather stations which would provide data to be used as part of the season-based crop insurance policy to decide on the claims made by the farmers.
District Collector Ashok Agrawal has asked the private insurer assigned the district under the scheme to install 17 automatic weather stations in the district by July 18, officials here informed.He also asked the insurer to notify the villages coming under the weather station.Automatic weather stations will be established at Chowki and Habhutola in Ambagarh Chowki block; Khapridarbar, Pata, Budhasagar, Salhevara, Belgaon in Chhuikhadan block; Sambalpur, Bital, Bharritola in Chhuriya block; Bhalukonha, Saltikri, Kolarghat, Motipur in Dongargarh block and Salikajhitiya in Dongargaon block.
Similarly weather stations will also be installed at Ghumarrah, Badhaitola, Udarichhapar in Khairagarh block; Chavargaon, Kahgaon, Sarkheda in Manpur block; Kattapar, Pardi, Mandigpidigbhursa, Chavargaon in Mohla block and Kanhapuri and Parsbod in Rajnandgaon block.
Based on the figures of rainfall received from the weather station, farmers from villages around 10-km area of the weather station will be made payment of their claim.The district administration has commenced massive preparations at all levels to implement season-based crop insurance scheme for the compensate of possible loss to farmers due to deficient or excess rainfall or even a drought in the district.
The Collector had held a meeting of officers of Agriculture, Bank, Insurance and District Co-operative Central Bank for implementation of season-based crop insurance scheme.In view of delay in the arrival of monsoon and deficient rainfall, the Collector also appealed to the non-loanee farmers to register for season-based crop insurance by July 31. Season-based crop insurance is mandatory for the loanee farmers.
During the monsoon season, if rainfall does not occur continuously for 15 days from July 1 to September 30, Rs2,000 per hectare will be paid to the farmers. Similarly, Rs2,500 will be paid if rainfall was not recorded for 18 days continuously and Rs3,000 per hectare for 20 days.