The Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. has released P3,965,791 in crop insurance to 1,036 farmers in Negros Occidental in the first six months of the year, an official in the province of the PCIC said yesterday. Jose Ma. Torres Jr., PCIC underwriter officer, said the crop insurance covers 3,965,79.28 hectares of farm lands that have been affected by floods, heavy rainfall, infestations and typhoons last year. Torres said the Department of Agriculture has also allotted P20 million for Western Visayas for Weather Adverse Rice Areas or the irrigated farm lands, P7 million of which is intended for Negros Occidental. He said NFUCIP and PCIC has, so far, released P13.3 million in crops insurance to 3,257 farmers covering 3,542.97 hectares since it started in August in 2010 The crop insurance offers protection to farmers against losses from plant diseases, pest infestation, and natural calamities, reduce the impact of losses from calamities and attain food security and agricultural productivity. Aside from the crop insurance, farmers also have free health care benefits through the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program. PCIC opened its provincial extension office at San Juan-Burgos Streets in Bacolod City last month to cater to more farmers who would like to enroll with the insurance program.

Source - http://www.visayandailystar.com/