An analysis of farmers perception and awareness towards Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana scheme as a tool for risk management in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu
R. Azhagesan1*, R. Selvakumar 2, K. Sita Devi 3 and J. Meenambigai4
1-3Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608002 India 4Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608002 India 1* Address for Correspondence : Email: azhagesanravi@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Agriculture, which is an important sector of National economy, is considered widely as an industry. Agriculture in India is highly susceptible to risks like droughts and floods. India has a long coast line. Rice is the major staple crop in the coastal region, groundnut, coconut, and cashew are some of the other crops that are predominant in the coastal areas. Tamil Nadu is one of the states which is often affected by natural calamities. Tamil Nadu has fourteen coastal districts, which share 25.5 per cent of the total geographical area. With this background, this study deals with farmers perception and awareness towards as a tool for risk management in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu. A multistage stratified random sampling method were followed by taking the coastal districts as the universe. Among the 14 coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur district were selected based on the number of farmers cultivating Paddy crop, as paddy is the main crop in these district and most severely affected by natural calamities such as drought, cyclone and flood. The farmers raising Rabi crops will be considered for this study. The study concluded that the majority of the farmers are between 41-50 years of age group and most of the farmers are illiterates. The awareness among the farmers about crop insurance was low. The Cyclone risk faced farmers are predominant in the study area. About 40.56 percent of the sample farmers only insured their crops in case of crop loss. Nearly60 percent of the sample farmers were using other risk management methods, like borrowing from moneylender, borrowing from friends and relatives, sale of livestock was followed by others. The study suggest that to improve the awareness of the scheme were need media to know about the crop insurance scheme and proper guidance to be given for staffs and farmers for its smooth operation.