Bengal’s tea to be covered by Centre’s weather-based insurance

The central government is set to extend its weather-based crop insurance scheme to cover the tea industry in West Bengal. This move will provide a crucial safety net for tea growers in the region, who are often at the mercy of unpredictable weather patterns like erratic rainfall, hailstorms, and temperature fluctuations, which can severely impact their crop yield and quality. Under the weather-based scheme, compensation is paid to farmers if specific weather triggers, such as a deficit or excess in rainfall, are met, regardless of the actual crop loss. This makes the claim settlement process faster and more transparent. The inclusion of tea, a major commercial crop for the state, under this insurance scheme is expected to provide financial stability to thousands of small and large tea growers, protecting them from the adverse effects of climate change.