Insurance coverage for floriculturists eyed

The Cebu City Agriculture Office hopes the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) expands its coverage for flower farmers.

At the moment, flower farmers can only avail crop insurance for chrysanthemum and roses, according to CAD’s Geneveve Abella.

However, CAD hopes the PCIC will expand its insurance coverage for flower farmers.

The issue on the expansion of coverage to flower farmers came as CAD laid out its plan to provide crop, livestock and life insurances during its yearly “caravan of services” for farmers and fisherfolk.

“Kanang higayuna, magrehistro sila sa mga farmers nato nga wala pa marehistro sa Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture kay di man ka maka avail sa livestock insurance nga libre,” Abella said via Sugboanon channel.

Abella said that farmers and fisherfolk are required to register before CAD in order to avail of livestock and crop insurance.

Abella said once the farmers are registered, CAD facilitates their application of crop and livestock insurance to the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

Farmers can avail of insurance for their high value crops such as vegetable and fruit trees and for their livestock.

“Ang apil ani niya kay mga high value crops, like vegetables. Apil pud ani ang mga fruit trees sama sa coconuts, banana, mangga. Apil pud ani ang mga livestock sama sa baka, kalabaw, kanding, baboy. Apil pud ani ang atong mag-uuma kay naa man tay gitawag og Agricultural Producer’s Protection Plan,” Abella said.

Rice farmers can also avail of crop insurance.

“Sa kaning rice, ang atoa lang jud ani ang insurable nga edad kay 15 days sa wala pa ka nagtanom or 15 days after ka nagtanom,” Abella said.

Insurance coverage for livestock farmers during the caravan is also being offered. This includes insurance for swine, cattle, carabaos, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, and horses.

Abella said livestock farmers can use their insurance coverage a week after their livestock died as a result of diseases.

Livestock farmers must provide photos of the dead animal as a requirement to claim the insurance.

Aside from that, Abella said CAD will also register farmers so that they can avail of PCIC’s Agricultural Producers Protection Plan (AP3), an insurance plan that covers death of the insured due to accident, natural causes, and murder or assault.

“Dinhi sa AP3, o’ sa binisaya pa, life insurance sa mag-uuma, kani siya naa ni siyay bayranan kay naa man ni premium. Ang bayranan ani kay P375, while ang ma claim sa beneficiary kay P50,000,” Abella said. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol/GMR