The Centre's ambitious crop insurance scheme, announced last month, can prove to be attractive to farmers but only if its implementation is glitch free. The next step will, therefore, be the real test of the government when it invites empanelled private general insurance companies to bid for clusters of districts across the country. The selection of insurance company from amongst the empanelled companies to act as an 'implementing agency' within the defined area will be done by the concerned state government. It will be done on the basis of the lowest weighted premium, quoted by these companies, for all notified crops within the particular cluster of districts. Since the Centre aims to cover at least 50% of the total crop area of 194.40 million hectare under the new scheme in two years time, it has decided to involve its 642 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs), spread across the country, to reach out to as many farmers as possible in their respective districts to share information on the scheme which has provisions of very low premium and quick claim disbursements. Unlike existing schemes, it also has the advantage of getting insurance cover for post-harvest crops. Under the new scheme, the insurance coverage is available up to a maximum period of 14 days from harvesting for those crops which are kept in "cut and spread" condition to dry in the field against specific perils of cyclone and unseasonal rains. Source - timesofindia.indiatimes.com