Local farmers of Negros Occidental are asked to re-enrol with the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program for the first cropping of 2012 to protect themselves from losses through infestation and natural calamities, Dina Genzola, senior agriculturist, said yesterday.

Those already enrolled can start filing their notice of loss at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Genzola said.

Even during rainy seasons, farmers still experience losses due to heavy rainfall and pest infestations, thus they need to enroll their land areas to be covered under the NFUCIP, she said, adding that OPA has to receive the notice of loss filed by the farmers so they can assess and evaluate the total damage and process it for refund.

Crop insurance aims to reduce the impact of losses from calamities and to achieve agricultural productivity and food security for Negros, Genzola said.

NFUCIP member can benefit from the maximum crop insurance of P17,680 per hectare, life insurance of P10,000, forced savings, Development Bank of the Philippines ATM cards, and project opportunities and technological trainings, she also said, adding that farmer-members will also have free health care benefit through the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program.

She also asked farmers to keep on paying their crop insurance so they will continue to receive benefits of the program.

Meanwhile, OPA recently conducted an NFUCIP mass enrolment in Bago City that registered a total of 180 farmers.*LTG

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