In the rainfed areas of agriculture in India, the farmer finds himself completely at the mercy of the elements. Survival of the crop is crucially dependent upon availability of the requisite moisture and ambient temperature, all through the agricultural operations from sowing to harvest. Fluctuations beyond limited tolerance levels, almost always prove fatal to survival of the crop. Even when the farmer is lucky with the quality of the seeds, pesticides micronutrients and other inputs, the growth and yield can still be destroyed by a long dry spell, temperature variations or excessive rain and flooding. In this background, Government of India and the Government of Chhattisgarh brought out an imaginative scheme under the caption Pilot Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme for Rabi 2008-09. The notification issued by the State Government on 22.10.2008 gives details of this scheme. Being a Pilot Scheme, it is meant for a few crops and a few Districts only. Benefit under the Scheme is limited to non-loanee farmers. The Scheme is designed to be implemented through OP/ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd.

2. The Scheme is for implementation on area approach basis. Insurance prem