Only 60 applications for the one-off rebates — which opened in March last year — have been received nationwide, with 48 approved, nine still in progress and three declined. Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, who allocated $20.2 million to the program over four years, has blamed the poor uptake on industry and agricultural consultants for not promoting it enough to farmers. “For decades the farming sector has called for support to bring multi-peril crop insurance options to market and this Government has acted to assist,” a spokeswoman for Mr Joyce said. “Over the past two years industry leaders and farm consultants have not been visible in encouraging farmers to take full advantage of the support this Government has put on the table.” It’s understood the scheme — open to farmers with an annual revenue of $2 million or under, to cover up to $2500 of the upfront costs of applying for and securing multi-peril crop insurance — will be reviewed by the Department of Agriculture this year. Department secretary Daryl Quinlivan told a Senate estimates hearing last week the program, was “something of a policy experiment”. “The objective of that program was to try and stimulate a private program in multi-peril insurance ... but I think we’re getting towards the point where we’re not able to stimulate the development of that market,” Mr Quinlivan said. Mr Joyce’s spokeswoman said the Government was in discussions with the farming and insurance sectors to find ways to increase the uptake of agricultural insurance. She said farmers were concerned at the cost of some farm insurance products, and state governments’ stamp duties on insurance premiums — which the Victorian Government recently axed. Grain Producers Australia chairman Andrew Weidemann said one of the problems with uptake was the high cost of premiums and most products were short-term policies. He wants the Government to offer an underwriting system which would allow longer policy protection. Victoria leads the way with the rebates, with 20 applications and $44,000 received, South Australia follows with 12 applications and $27,500 received in rebates. NSW farmers have lodged nine applications and received $20,000; Queensland has lodged four applications and Western Australia three. Source - http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/