The Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program has released P1,169,495.50 claims from Philippine Crop Insurance Program 6 to 221 farmer-beneficiaries affected by floods, heavy rainfall, and infestations in 2011 from the, Dina Genzola, senior agriculturist of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist said yesterday.

NFUCIP was launched in August last year with Secretary Proceso Alcala and has already covered damages of crops in the previous months, Genzola said.

The crop insurance offers protection to farmers against losses from plant diseases, pest infestation, and natural calamities.

The crop damages were caused by heavy rains, typhoons, floods, rice black bug, rice blast, blight and infestation of tungro virus that affected 241.75 hectares of land, Genzola said.

NFUCIP has 1,979 farmer-members who insured their lands with PCIC covering a total 1,546.71 hectares.

Meanwhile, 18 farmers will receive their claims of P67,646 next week, Genzola said.

The farmer-beneficiaries are from Valladolid, Binalbagan, San Enrique, La Castellana, Himamaylan City, Cadiz City, and San Carlos City.

The program also aims to reduce the impact of losses from calamities and attain food security and agricultural productivity for Negros, Genzola said.

She added that every farmer-member can avail of the maximum crop insurance of P17,680 per hectare, Development Bank of the Philippines ATM cards, forced savings, life insurance of P10,000, and technological trainings and project opportunities.

They also have a free health care benefit through the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program, Genzola said.*LTG

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