Farmers in Quirino get free crop insurance coverage

MANILA, Philippines—More than 1,500 rice and corn farmers in Quirino province have received free insurance coverage for their crops for two seasons under a program of the Department of Agrarian Reform, officials said on Wednesday.

The DAR recently awarded Certificates of Insurance Coverage to 1,532 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Quirino providing them and their dependents free agricultural insurance.

In a news release, DAR Assistant Regional Director Paramon Furigay said the farmers were recipients of the agency’s agricultural insurance program in partnership with Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.

The DAR has allocated P1 billion to shoulder the 10 percent insurance premium for the agrarian reform beneficiaries.

“The insurance will be good for two cropping seasons, after which, they have to apply anew for the next insurance coverage,” he said. “The DAR had observed that the farmers used to pay 10 percent premium for crop insurance. This is already a big amount to them, which can be converted into earnings instead of being channeled for the insurance.”

“Agricultural insurance serves as a safety net for farmers in times of calamity,” he added. “At least the farmers would not bear the losses and they can be assured of at least a break even through this insurance program.”

Recipients of the free insurance in Quirino included 272 farmers in the town of Aglipay, 69 in Saguday, 716 in Diffun and 475 in Maddela.