By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 12, 2015 :Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged the Centre to extend the deadline for crop insurance of non-loanee farmers under the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) during Khariff-2015 crop season as the specter of drought is looming large over almost half of Odisha due to meager rainfall since June this year.

Overall, the state has received 13 percent less than the normal rainfall from June till August 10. But the situation is particularly bad in some 15 districts.

According to local Met office statistics, as against the average rainfall of 680 mm in Odisha from June to August 10, the state has received 570 mm rainfall this year which is 13 percent less than the average rainfall.

Considering the uneven and deficient rainfall in the state for which agriculture operations in the state have been delayed, the chief minister has written a letter to union agriculture minister, Radha Mohan Singh, requesting him to extend the deadline for crop insurance.

“In order to help the maximum number of farmers to avail the benefits provided under the crop insurance scheme of government, it is requested that the cut-off date for applying for insurance coverage by the non-loanee farmers may be further extended to 31st August, 2015 instead of 31st July, 2015 under the NAIS during Khariff-2015”, the letter said.

The scheme was implemented last year to benefit the farmers which provides for 100 per cent crop insurance coverage.

“I solicit your positive response at the earliest so that the maximum number of farmers can be covered under the above scheme,” Patnaik said.