The Government has extended deadline for those farmers who have not taken loan to insure Kharif crops under the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme, NAIS, till 15th of September.<br/><br/>According to the Agriculture Ministry, under NAIS the deadline to insure 2015 Kharif crop for loan availed farmers is till 30th of September, while for those who have not taken loan it was till 31st of July, now being extended to 15th September.<br/><br/>In a statement, the Ministry said the extension will benefit farmers in states which had low rainfall or late rain and delayed planting. The cut-off date to insure this year's kharif crops has been extended following request from Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Gujarat governments.<br/><br/>Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the decision has been taken in the interest of farmers in states where delayed and low rainfall has been reported.<br/><br/>Under the NAIS, there is a fixed premium for food and oilseeds crops. In case of horticultural crops, the premium rate is set on actuarial basis.<br/><br/>The sowing of Kharif crops begins with the onset of southwest monsoon from June. So far, more than 80 per cent of the total farm area has been sown, but in some states, planting has got delayed due to poor rains.

The Government has extended deadline for those farmers who have not taken loan to insure Kharif crops under the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme, NAIS, till 15th of September.<br/><br/>According to the Agriculture Ministry, under NAIS the deadline to insure 2015 Kharif crop for loan availed farmers is till 30th of September, while for those who have not taken loan it was till 31st of July, now being extended to 15th September.<br/><br/>In a statement, the Ministry said the extension will benefit farmers in states which had low rainfall or late rain and delayed planting. The cut-off date to insure this year's kharif crops has been extended following request from Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Gujarat governments.<br/><br/>Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the decision has been taken in the interest of farmers in states where delayed and low rainfall has been reported.<br/><br/>Under the NAIS, there is a fixed premium for food and oilseeds crops. In case of horticultural crops, the premium rate is set on actuarial basis.<br/><br/>The sowing of Kharif crops begins with the onset of southwest monsoon from June. So far, more than 80 per cent of the total farm area has been sown, but in some states, planting has got delayed due to poor rains.