Farmers’ Access to Services

Main Objectives:
  • To enhance awareness about source of extension, information and services among farmers.
  • To enhance farmers knowledge on legal aspects.

Agricultural insurance

Insurance coverage is given to farmers mainly by Agricultural Insurance Corporation Ltd (AIC) and many other private agencies. All loanee farmers automatically eligible for agricultural insurance coverage. Non loanee farmers can also avail this benefit by payment of nominal premium. Some of the important agricultural insurance schemes available at present are as follows.

  • National Agricultural Insurance Scheme
  • WBCIS - Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme
  • MNAIS - Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme
  • RISC - Rainfall Insurance Scheme for Coffee (coffee Insurance)
    • Rubber Insurance
  • Coconut Insurance
  • Varsha Bima/Rainfall Insurance
  • Rabi Weather Insurance
  • Wheat Insurance (Weather & Biomass)
  • Potato Insurance
  • Bio-Fuel Tree/Plant Insurance
  • Pulpwood Tree Insurance
  • Cardamom Plant & Yield Insurance

Legal Aspects:

It is important for farmers to know the legal aspects of important inputs namely seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.

The Seeds Act 1966

It deals with regulations related to production, certification, quality control, sales, seed analysis, seed inspection, export and import, penalty, exemptions and amendment. The details are available under http://agricoop.nic.in

The Fertiliser (Control) order 1985

It deals with regulations related to fertilizer Price control, control on distribution, registration of dealers, manufacture of fertilizers, mixtures, restrictions on manufacturing, import, sale, enforcement authorities, analysis of samples, specifications and penalty. The details are available under http://www.agricoop.nic.in/

Insecticides Act, 1968:

An act to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings or animals and for matters connected. For more information, farmers may contact nearest banks, agricultural department or Kisan Call Centers.



Accessing financial services–sources

  • Self Help Groups (Micro Finance Institutions)
  • Nationalized and other private banks
  • Cooperative banks and societies
  • Subsidy schemes of State/Central Governments

  1. Important types of credits and savings

    Kisan Credit Card Scheme (KCC) aims at providing adequate and timely support from the banking system to the farmers for their short-term credit needs for cultivation of crops. This mainly helps farmers for purchase of inputs during the cropping season. Credit card scheme proposed to introduce flexibility to the system and improve cost efficiency.

    Salient features of the scheme
    • This scheme covers all the Kisan Credit Card Holders against death or permanent disability within the country.
    • All KCC holders up to the age of 70 years are eligible

    The benefits under the scheme are as under
    • Death due to accident caused by outward, violent and visible means: Rs.50,000/-
    • Permanent total disability: Rs.50,000/-
    • Loss of two limbs or two eyes or one limb and one eye: Rs.50,000/-
    • Loss of one limb or one eye: Rs.25,000/-
    • Period of Master Policy - Valid for a period of 3 years.
    • Period of Insurance - Insurance cover will be in force for a period of one year from the date of receipt of premium from the participating Banks in cases where annual premium is paid. In case of three year cover, the period of insurance would be for three years from the date of receipt of premium
    • Premium - Out of the Annual premium of Rs.15/- per KCC holder, Bank has to pay Rs.10/- and Rs.5/- has to be recovered from KCC holder.
    • Claims Procedure - In case of death, disablement claims & death due to drowning: Claim administration will be done by the designated office of the Insurance Companies. Separate procedure is to be followed.

  2. Credit support from nationalized banks

    • Extend agriculture credits under priority sector, implement NABARD Schemes, Government schemes and social security schemes
    • Extend crop and agriculture investment/term loans