Maharashtra government appears to have learnt no lesson at all from the hailstorms that lashed the entire state in March this year, and yet again lashed several districts in May, if its new decision to include three orchard crops – orange, sweet lime and guava – in its Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) on an experimental basis during the current crop season is any standard to go by. The scheme, which has been extended over 17 districts in the state where these three fruits are predominantly grown, and which has also been made mandatory for farmers having crop loans, will benefit only insurance companies, not farmers, say orchard growers in the state. Compulsory cover The government resolution (GR) of June 6, 2014, says that insurance will be granted for a specific time period, against specific weather-related risks. In the case of orange and sweet-lime, protection against too little rain will be provided from June 15 to July 15, 2014, and protection against break in rainfall will be provided from July 15 to August 15. The guava crop will be provided protection only against too little rain from June 15 to July 15.

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