Lemon farmers in Nellore urged to take crop insurance amid El Niño threat
Agricultural officials in Nellore are urging lemon farmers to enroll in a weather-based crop insurance scheme to mitigate risks posed by El Niño. The government-backed program provides financial protection against climate-related crop damage.
Why it matters
Climate change and weather volatility pose existential threats to small-scale farmers, making insurance schemes vital for economic stability.
Fearing that the El Niño condition is likely to damage the lemon orchards in the SPSR Nellore district, the administration has advised farmers to utilise the weather-based crop insurance scheme provided by the Government of India and the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking to The Hindu , District Horticulture Officer (DHO) M.V. Subbareddy said, “Lime is the major horticulture crop in the district. More than 14,000 farmers are cultivating lemons across 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres).”
He stated that every lemon farmer in the district should opt for the insurance scheme. “If the lemon crop is damaged due to rainfall, temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity during the period of insurance, the farmers will be provided with an insurance of ₹1.20 lakh per hectare,” he said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in