Question : BANANA CULTIVATION

(a) whether the Government has taken note of banana plantation hit severely by hailstorm, pests, weeds and other diseases leading to low production in various States including Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh;

(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years, State-wise;

(c) the compensation paid by the Government to the affected farmers to offset the losses during the said period;

(d) whether it is a fact that insurance companies have not settled the claims for the damaged banana under the weather based crop insurance scheme; and

(e) if so, the action taken by the Government thereon?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI TARIQ ANWAR)

(a) to (c): As per available information, in Maharashtra the area affected by hailstorm, pests, weeds & other diseases and compensation paid is as mentioned below:

Period	Area (Ha)	Amount	(Rs. In Lakh)
2010-11	170.19	17.02
2011-12	646.00	64.61
2012-13	590.63	59.06

There is no report of damage to banana plantations by hailstorm, pests,
weeds and other diseases in Andhra Pradesh or any other state.

(d) & (e):	Banana crop is covered in Andhra Pradesh under National
Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS)/ Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme
(WBCIS) and in Maharashtra under WBCIS. Claims under these schemes are
settled as per provisions of the respective schemes. Details of settlement of claims
of Banana crop covered under Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) in
Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh is as given below:
State	Year	Number of Farmers	Claims (Rs. In Crore)
Maharashtra	2011-12	3045	29.47	2012-13	564	5.10
Andhra Pradesh	2010-11	0	0	2011-12	2386	2.19