PANAJI:  The Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme recently launched in Goa has received overwhelming response, with the department of agriculture insuring around 17,000 coconut trees around the state.

The coconut cultivators from Ponda and Sanguem talukas are leading as far as availing of this scheme is concerned.
The scheme was launched on March 24, 2010 and will be valid till March 2, 2011. Farmers can renew it for one more year by paying the premium.
Goa had introduced the scheme along with Kerala; both the states having abundant coconut crop. Approximately 1,00,000 coconut trees existing in Goa are under the process of being insured in an unprecedented exercise, complete with a physical examination of their girth. The agriculture department officials are presently visiting the hinterlands to inspect the coconut plantations and are physically examining the coconut trees as required by insurance specifications.
The state government along with several other government agencies had decided to provide comprehensive insurance cover for coconut cultivators, by insuring the trees from cyclones and lightning, the two main reasons for destruction of coconut trees in the state. The coconut cultivators can also claim insurance in case of the destruction of a coconut tree by floods, pests, earthquakes, fire, diseases and drought.
Under the scheme, the coconut cultivators have to pay Rs 1.60 paise per tree annually, while the government pays Rs 7 per tree. In all 75 per cent of the premium is sponsored by several agencies like the Coconut Development Board, the state agriculture department, a local horticulture collective and Zuari Agro Ltd, a pesticide manufacturing company, as part of their corporate social responsibility. In case a coconut palm dies, the beneficiary of the insurance scheme stands to get Rs 920 per palm.
The forms for the scheme are available with the Goa Bhagayatdar Co-operative Society as well as the zonal agriculture officers of the agriculture department. In case of death of a tree, the coconut cultivator has to report the same to the zonal agriculture officer and file his claim. All claims, including the entire programme, are being handled by the Agriculture Insurance Company of India.
The department of agriculture has proposed to cover 1.21 lakh coconut trees under the scheme within next 60 days.