Even after the crop insurance deadline was extended from July 31 to August 14, only 18% of kuruvai paddy cultivated in Thanjavur district has been insured this year.
Agriculture officials report that kuruvai paddy has been sown on around 79,000 hectares in the district, but farmers have insured just 13,820 hectares under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) by paying the necessary premium. By the original July 31 deadline, only 9,600 hectares out of 64,800 hectares sown by then had been insured.
Farmers cite poor claim settlements by insurance companies in previous years as a reason for the low coverage. “In past years, claims for crop damage were settled poorly in the district. That’s why farmers are hesitant to insure their kuruvai paddy,” said P Senthilkumar, a farmer from Ammapettai.
S Sivakumar, a farmer from Tiruvaiyaru, added that many farmers with pump sets have started their kuruvai cultivation early and are close to harvesting, which lowers perceived risk and reduces interest in crop insurance.
An agriculture official noted that early cultivators, who will harvest before the northeast monsoon, face lower risks. Out of the district’s 14 blocks, only five, where cultivation started late, are expected to opt for insurance to protect against monsoon-related losses.
For comparison, in 2024, only 5,090 hectares (10% of the total cultivated area) of kuruvai paddy in Thanjavur were insured. Meanwhile, in Tiruvarur district, 37,110 hectares—48% of its 77,573 hectares sown—were insured. Officials attributed the higher uptake there to late sowing, which coincided with the release of Cauvery water, exposing farmers to greater risks.