Milma Launches Insurance Scheme to Offset Fall in Milk Yield in Summer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), known by the brand Milma, has launched a comprehensive insurance scheme that guarantees financial compensation for dairy farmers to offset the loss of income due to fall in milk yield during the summer.

Titled ‘Saral Krishi Bima’, the heat index-based cattle insurance rolled out on Wednesday at Milma’s headquarters here with Agricultural Insurance Company (AIC) Regional Manager Varun handing over the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to Milma Chairman K S Mani.

To start with, the scheme, implemented by Milma with AIC and AIMS Insurance, will cover the dairy farmers under the Malabar Regional Co-operative Milk Producers Union (MRCMPU).

Mani said the scheme will provide relief to the dairy farmers who are seriously affected by sharp dip in milk production due to soaring summer heat. After assessing the impact of the scheme in the Malabar region, it will be extended to the entire state, he said.

Milma Managing Director Asif K Yusuf, Trivandrum Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union (TRCMPU) MD DS Konda, Malabar Regional Co-operative Milk Producers Union (MRCMPU) General Manager NK Premlal, KCMMF General Manager P Gopalakrishnan, KCMMF P&I Manager A Gopakumar, and AIMS Insurance MD Viswanathan Odatt were present at the function.

The scheme, which covers cows and buffaloes, guarantees insurance benefits for dairy farmers if the temperature exceeds the specified limits for six consecutive days or more, which could result in drastic fall in milk yield.

Under the scheme, the temperature limit for availing the benefit of the scheme in Palakkad and Wayanad districts is pegged at 37 degrees Celsius, Kannur and Kasaragod 34.5 degrees Celsius, Malappuram 33.5 degrees Celsius and Kozhikode 33 degrees Celsius.

The farmers will get the financial compensation if the recorded temperature crosses the fixed limit. If the temperature goes up above the limit for more than six days the farmers will get a compensation of Rs 140, for more than eight days Rs 440, for more than 10 days Rs 900 and for more than 25 days Rs 2000.

As the farmers can register for the scheme through the dairy co-operative societies to which they belong, they need not apply separately to join the scheme. The insurance company will provide the benefit after reading the recorded temperature of the respective area via satellite.