KKKS demand crop insurance for farmers of the hills

KNE;Kalimpong, January 27: In one hand while the Kisan Credit Card (Farmers’ Credit Card) initiated by the government is said to benefit the farmers in the country, while in the other, Kalimpong Krishak Kalyan Sangathan (KKKS) has alleged that the card is doing nothing except putting the farmers in debt. 

Vishnu Chettri, the KKKS Secretary, today said that the credit card facilitates loan to the farmers with 4% interest, insurance to the farmers, crop insurance, etc. The letter issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide letter no. RBI/2011-12/553/RPCD.FSD.BC. No. 77/05.09.2012 dated May 11, 2012, mentions these facilities of the credit card. On this context, Chettri said that the farmers in the hills are being delivered loan and insurance, however, they are deprived from crop insurance.

 He informed that unlike in the plains, only selective crops/ spices/ vegetables grow in the hills such as large cardamom, ginger, orange, soft broom, vegetables and few medicinal plants. The produce here faces issues like natural calamities and is at times eaten or spoiled by the animals. Despite of the crop insurance mentioned in the RBI guidelines, the farmers here are not receiving the same, he said. 

The KKKS demanding that the crop insurance should be delivered to the farmers of the hills has forwarded letters to the General Manager of RBI, Kolkata, General Manager of NABARD, Chairman of the State Level Bankers’ Committee, Darjeeling District Magistrate, Lead District Manager of Central bank of India, Darjeeling, etc.