The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist released P440,691 in crop insurance to 134 rice farmers in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Monday, Dennis Panuelo, agricultural technologist, said yesterday.

The aid was released through the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program and the Weather Adverse Rice Area, Panuelo said.

NFUCIP, that was launched in August in 2010 by Secretary Proceso Alcala, has already covered damage to crops in previous months.

Panuelo said the crop insurance offers protection to farmers against losses from plant diseases, pest infestation, and natural calamities, reduces the impact of damage from calamities and attains food security and agricultural productivity.

Aside from the crop insurance, farmers also have free health care benefits through the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program, Panuelo said.

She added that soon the crop insurance coverage of NFUCIP and WARA will also include corn and other high-valued crops and fisheries.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. Region 7 turned over its jurisdiction of the first District of Negros Occidental covering the towns of Calatarva, Toboso, EB Magalona and Don Salvador Benedicto and the cities of San Carlos and Escalante to PCIC Region 6 last week.*Mara Kathleen Dela Minez

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