The provincial government of Negros Occidental turned over P9,500,400 to the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) for the crop insurance and protection of more farmers in the province, through the provincial government’s Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program (NFUCIP).

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson handed the check to PCIC Regional Manager Eva Ulie Laud and Regional Marketing and Sales Division OIC Jose Ma. Torres, Jr. at the Governor’s Office last Tuesday, in the presence of Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) OIC, Dr. Dina Genzola.

NFUCIP is a joint initiative of the provincial government and PCIC that aims to provide protection to agricultural crops in the province and address the adverse effect of climate change in crop production.

To qualify for the province’s crop insurance program, a farmer must have at least 0.25 hectare up to a maximum of 3.0 hectares of agricultural land used for planting rice and corn, and 500 sq. m. to one hectare for high value crops.

OPA record shows that as of December 31, 2020, a total of 62,821 farmers with 72,806.16 hectares are already enrolled in the program.

Out of the total insured farmers, 38,447 recipients have already received indemnity claims amounting to P184,374,480 covering 40,712.33 hectares of damaged rice, corn and high value crops./WDJ