The district administration has asked farmers who had raised chilli crops in villages notified by the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AICL) to insure their crops by paying a premium of Rs. 1,000 by February 28. Though about 25,000 farmers have raised chilli crops in 22,000 hectares in the district during this rabi season (November, 2017 – March, 2018), the insurance cover under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana (PMFBY) was open to only about 9,000 farmers, who have cultivated the crops in about 70 villages, notified by the AICL, officials said. While insurance for paddy crops under the PMFBY was open to all farmers, insurance in respect of other crops has been made open to farmers only in villages, notified by the AICL, they said. As per the notification, farmers who have raised chilli crops in villages in Bogalur, Kadaladi, Mudukulathur, Nainarkoil, Paramakudi, RS Mangalam, Ramanathapuram and Thirupullani blocks were eligible for the insurance cover, they added. Collector S. Natarajan said farmers in the notified villages could insure their crops by paying the prescribed premium by February 28. In the event of suffering 100% loss, they would be given a compensation of Rs. 20,000 per acre, he said. Meanwhile, in a bid to promote home and roof top gardening, the Collector announced distribution of hybrid vegetable seed kits to the public. People could get the kits, comprising seeds of five hybrid vegetables, worth Rs. 20 per kit at a subsidised rate of Rs. 8 per kit. A total of 16,500 kits were available for distribution to people in the district, he said adding a sum of Rs. 1.98 lakh has been allotted to bear the subsidy. A person could get maximum of six kits, he added. Source - http://www.thehindu.com