Pilot implementation of agricultural insurance: Slow and confusing

(Baonghean) -The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 315/QD-TT dated March 1, 2011 on pilot implementation of agricultural insurance for rice, livestock, poultry... in case of natural disasters and epidemics. Nghe An is one of 20 provinces nationwide where the policy is implemented. Although the decision took effect on July 1, 2011, people in Nghe An still do not know...

For a long time, the main occupation of the people of Hung Long - Hung Nguyen has been raising breeding cows and beef cattle. This is a commune with a large concentration of buffaloes and cows in the district. Taking advantage of the alluvial land that is not cultivated for a season, people graze the animals all day and herd them back at night. Currently, Hung Long has 1,400 cows, 250 buffaloes, and 5,000 to 6,000 poultry. Due to the grazing, the risk of disease is always latent. In 2011, foot-and-mouth disease "attacked" twice, but people were able to prevent it in time, so the damage was very little. However, on the other hand, the risk of natural disasters for buffaloes, cows, poultry, and rice is very high. There was a year when floods swept away all the buffaloes, cows, pigs, and rice was completely lost. However, the people of Hung Long have not heard of the Government's agricultural insurance policy. Thinking that I was an insurance seller like other insurance services, Mr. Sam - hamlet 9B, Hung Long commune - a household raising 11 buffaloes, cows and breeding cows quickly waved his hand "No, I'm about to sell some of my buffaloes and cows". After being explained, he said: "Whatever the government does, it always thinks of the people, it's good for the people. If it's a general policy, my family will participate".

Testing new sugarcane varieties at Ta Co village (Chau Hanh - Quy Chau).
Photo: Ngoc Lan

Mr. Sam's thoughts are similar to those of Mr. Hai, Mr. Thanh, Mr. Duc, Ms. Lieu... in Hamlet 9B - a hamlet that raises many buffaloes and cows in Hung Long. The whole hamlet has 150 buffaloes and cows, many households raise 3-4 cows. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai - Party cell secretary of Hamlet 9B said: "My family raises two breeding bulls worth more than 60 million VND. I recently had to sell one because of the epidemic. If there is an insurance policy for buffaloes and cows, I think it should be implemented soon". According to Mr. Hai, raising cows in Hung Long is the most effective profession here. But if an epidemic occurs, we may end up empty-handed.

In Hung Tay, the whole commune has 1,700 buffaloes and cows, but people do not know about the government's agricultural insurance policy. Even the commune leaders have only heard rumors. Mr. Ly, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said that the strict farming process is not certain that people will comply. If they do not follow the process, they will not receive benefits.

Not only the people, some leaders of districts and departments related to farmers also hope to apply policies to help farmers reduce losses. Mr. Nguyen Ba Thuc - Head of the Department of Agriculture of Tan Ky district said: "Tan Ky has over 50,000 buffaloes and cows along with thousands of hectares of long-term industrial crops. If only people could participate in insurance under the State's policy for industrial crops, it would be great".

However, Nghe An has not yet established a Steering Committee for Agricultural Insurance in the locality; there are no regulations on which districts will pilot the program according to Decision 315 of the Prime Minister and Official Dispatch No. 8133 of the Ministry of Finance.

Breeding cows in Hung Long - Hung Nguyen. Photo: Chau Lan

According to Decision 315 of the Prime Minister on Agricultural Insurance policy, the State will support 100% of insurance premiums for poor farming households and individuals engaged in agricultural production participating in the agricultural insurance pilot program; support 80% of insurance premiums for near-poor farming households and individuals engaged in agricultural production participating in agricultural insurance; support 60% of insurance premiums for households that are not poor and support 20% of insurance premiums for agricultural production organizations.

The Ministry of Agriculture has issued an Official Dispatch regulating natural disasters, epidemics and determining the extent of damage to support the pilot agricultural insurance program. For rice: insured against yellow dwarf disease, leaf curl dwarf, black-striped dwarf, brown planthopper disease. Livestock and poultry are insured against foot-and-mouth disease, blue ear disease, avian influenza, etc.

In the pilot program, each province will select 3 districts, each district will select 3 communes, and the entire commune will be insured in case of epidemics or natural disasters. The Ministry of Agriculture will also issue production processes, livestock farming processes, insurance calculation time, etc.

Such a meaningful policy of the State for agriculture and rural areas, but why is the province implementing it slowly and awkwardly?

Chau Lan