Farmers of Bajhang, who have been suffering losses in their agricultural business due to various disasters, will now get agricultural insurance facilities. The District Agricultural Knowledge Center has informed that a campaign will be run to expand the insurance facility throughout the district.

The Agricultural Knowledge Center has already provided training on agricultural insurance to 25 agents of Bajhang in coordination with the national insurance company. Although there is a limited practice of farmers taking insurance in the case of livestock, the number of those taking insurance for crops and herbs is zero.

The Knowledge Center has informed that the insurance campaign is being started to boost the morale of farmers as those engaged in commercial agriculture suffer huge losses every year due to various weather events, fires, diseases and pests. Since crop and herb insurance has not been possible due to lack of awareness regarding insurance, trained agents will bring more and more farmers under its purview, said Janak Bahadur Singh, head of the Knowledge Center.

‘We are starting a campaign with a provision for compulsory insurance for farmers who have received government subsidies,’ he said, ‘The agents will encourage those who are engaged in agricultural work without receiving subsidies to take insurance and there are preparations to bring as many farmers under the insurance coverage.’ He said that since all the trained agents are agricultural technicians and represent all the municipalities in the district, the insurance campaign will spread throughout the district.

There is a provision that farmers’ crops and livestock will be evaluated through trained agents and seven percent of the total evaluation will be paid as insurance. The Government of Nepal will provide a subsidy of 80 percent of the total amount to be paid for insurance and the farmer will have to bear only 20 percent. An agent, Ishwar Dharala, said that after paying an additional two hundred rupees for this insurance, farmers will also get accident insurance.

He said that the investment made by the farmer in crops and livestock or the return received from the investment after production can be evaluated and insurance can be provided on that basis. ‘Insurance can be provided by evaluating crops planted in a small area or one or two livestock and commercial firms,’ he said, ‘Farmers can choose whether to insure based on cost or return.’ He believes that since the government subsidizes 80 percent of the insurance premium, the amount farmers have to pay will be very low, and many farmers will be covered by insurance.

The Agricultural Knowledge Center is taking the initiative to protect farmers in remote and climate-related districts like Bajhang from potential risks, and it will be easier to insure farmers if there are agents at the local level, says Kabita Lama, manager of the National Insurance Board. ‘Once agents are available at the municipal level, farmers will be informed about insurance.’ It will help reduce the potential risks in agriculture, livestock and herbs,' she said, 'The insurance system will reduce the risk of sinking not only for small farmers but also for those who invest heavily in the agriculture, livestock and herbs sector.' She said that after the insurance facility is in place, the number of investors in this sector will also increase.