DA-PCIC, Negros Occ launch P180-M crop insurance program

The Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Province of Negros Occidental recently launched a P180-million crop insurance program that is expected to benefit 10,000 rice farmers.

The joint initiative, called the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program (NFUCIP), was launched August 5, 2011 by Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and Governor Alfredo J. Marañon, Jr., at the Negros Occidental multi-purpose activity center, in Bacolod City, where 2,000 farmers, fishers, livestock raisers and local officials attended.

Sec. Alcala and Gov. Marañon distributed crop insurance policies to 1,500 farmers to kick-off the NFUCIP. They were assisted by lawyer Jovy C. Bernabe, president of the DA’s Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

Bernabe said the insurance policy guarantees each farmer a maximum of P17,680 per hectare in insurance claims if his or her insured crop is totally destroyed or lost due to pest infestation, plant disease or natural calamities.

Assuming that Negros Occidental’s estimated 10,000 rice farmers have at least one hectare each, the NFUCIP guarantees close P180 million in crop insurance coverage, Bernabe said.

Under the program, the provincial government of Negros Occidental agreed to shoulder 60 percent or P500 of the insurance premium worth P840 per hectare per cropping. The balance of P340 is paid by the farmer. The PCIC indemnifies the farmer of up to P17,680 when his rice crop is totally damages by pests, diseases or flood. In some special cases, Bernabe said, the provincial government has agreed to subsidize the entire crop insurance premium. Mr. Charlie Brilleta, PCIC Region 6 Manager