Shrimp farming is a capital intensive, technology led and risk loaded primary production system albeit with better economic returns. Shrimp farmers, particularly small scale farm holders face overwhelming constraints in their farming, which can be minimised through provision of crop insurance which enhances the farmers risk bearing ability as well as access to institutional credit. ICAR-CIBA has been working with National Fisheries Development Board, national and international insurance broking companies and public and private insurance companies over a decade for the reintroduction of crop insurance for shrimp aquaculture. On 22.3.2022, CIBA arranged a focus group discussion with senior officials from Oriental insurance and Alliance insurance brokers towards facilitating re-introduction of shrimp crop insurance in India. Dr. K.P. Jithendran, Director, ICAR-CIBA inaugurated the programme and stressed upon the need for shrimp crop insurance. Disease risks can wipe out the working capital of small farmers in just one crop loss which needs five successive good crops to restore. Therefore, role of crop insurance is very important to ensure economic sustainability of the sector. Dr. T. Ravisankar, Principal Scientist, Social Sciences Division presented a landscape shrimp aquaculture, risks associated and proposed crop insurance products which cover first 60 days of culture and natural calamity cover for the full crop of four months to make the product to be a workable proposition for insurance companies as well as for the farmers. Dr. M. Muralidhar, Principal Scientist & Scientist-in-Charge, Environmental section, gave a presentation of last 20 years of climate risks faced by the farmers. Dr. M. Kumaran, Principal Scientist, Social Sciences Division, demonstrated the modules of CIBA mobile applications viz., ‘CIBA VanamiApp’ and ‘Shrimp KrishiApp’ and indicated the possible use of these apps by the insurance companies to monitor the client shrimp farms. Later, Ms. Shelly Dheer, Deputy General Manager and Mr. Safia Patel, Chief Regional Manager from Oriental Insurance and Mr. A. Srinivasan, Vice President, Mr. K.V. Pathasarathy, Chief Manager and Mr. Kuldeep Bhadekar, Assistant Vice President (Agricultural Insurance) discussed in detail with CIBA Scientists on various technical and insurance aspects pertaining to shrimp farming. Earlier, Dr. C.V. Sairam, Principal Scientist & Scientist-in-Charge, Social Sciences Division, welcomed the gathering. Dr. P.K. Patil Principal Scientist & Scientist-in-Charge, Institute Technology Management Unit proposed the vote of thanks.
