THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through its Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program (NFUCIP) has paid P41 million in indemnity claims to 10,196 enrolled-farmers since the program started in 2011. Records of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) showed that from January to May 16 this year alone, the province has released almost P5.7 million in claims to 1,087 rice farmers covering an area of about 1,206 hectares. The amount is on top of the P2.8 million paid in 2011; P1.3 million, in 2012; P6.1 million, in 2014; and P16.2 million, in 2015, covering a total of 8,160 rice farmers with an area of almost 8,462 hectares. For corn, NFUCIP covers 213 farmers with 190.65-hectare plantation, and has provided claims worth P738,723 from 2014 until May 16 this year, OPA reports showed. For high-value commercial crops, the Province and Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. have insured 1.25 hectares owned by six farmers, who already received claims amounting to P39,435 from 2014 to 2015, it added. Under the NFUCIP, implemented in partnership with the PCIC, farmers may avail of the P17,000 claims per hectare of farms damaged, and affected by calamities as well as diseases and pest infestation. The enrollment premium per cropping season is P840. Of which, only P340 is the counterpart of the farmer-enrollees while the remaining P500 is shouldered by the Provincial Government as loan. Provincial Senior Agriculturist Dina Genzola said that OPA, through its field personnel and extension workers, and through the city and municipal agriculturists, continues to reach local farmers, including those in upland and far-flung areas, to encourage them to enroll in the crop insurance program. “Enrolling in crop insurance program should be part of their cultural management especially with the start of cropping season and with the expected onset of La Niña phenomenon,” Genzola added. OPA records further showed that for the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) and other regular programs of PCIC, about 2, 300 rice farmers with an area of almost 2, 500 hectares have availed of indemnity claims amounting to P13.9 million from January to May 16, 2016. Sixty-two enrolled corn growers have acquired claims worth P276,893 for their 60.25-hectare plantation. Source - http://www.sunstar.com.ph