Shrimp Crop Insurance is a planned adaption measure to facilitate the shrimp farmer to manage the production risk. The shrimp crop insurance programme which was in operation during the initial phase of scientific shrimp farming (1990-1995), subsequently withdrawn due to heavy production losses. Nevertheless, it is getting revived thanks to the efforts of ICAR-CIBA, the Government of India and Insurance Companies. Two insurance schemes for shrimp farming have been launched respectively by Oriental Insurance Company (OIC) and Agricultural Insurance Company of India Ltd. (AIC) with a support of Ms. Alliance Insurance Brokers Ltd. The officials of insurance companies who are not from fisheries background needs adequate orientation about the shrimp farming technologies need a capacity development on the subject. Similarly, a professional group of persons who can become the loss assessors/surveyors are also need to be trained in insurance related guidelines and aspects. To accomplish the above requirements, ICAR-CIBA, Chennai in collaboration with ICAR-CIFE Mumbai conducted a ‘Certificate Course on Risk Management Survey and Loss Assessment in Shrimp Farming’ during 19-23 February 2024. About 40 participants representing the insurance companies, potential surveyors and development departments participated in the programme. The trainees were given adequate exposure to shrimp farming technologies, practices and insurance related matters. Further, field visits to shrimp farms and hatcheries and interactions with bankers and insurance experts were also organized as part of the training.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr.C.N.Ravishankar, the Vice Chancellor and Director of ICAR- CIFE Mumbai and Dr. Kuldeep Kumar Lal Director, ICAR-CIBA, Chennai. In his welcome address Dr Kuldeep K Lal briefed about the genesis of shrimp crop insurance and role played by ICAR-CIBA in evolving the structured insurance policies of OIC and AIC. Dr C N Ravishankar in his address assured that similar Certificate Courses will be conducted in Mumbai and Kolkata for the benefit of unreached stakeholders of this vital concept.
On 23rd February 2024, Dr.R.Shankar Narayanan, CGM, NABARD Regional Office, Chennai participated in the Valedictory session and he appreciated the efforts of ICAR CIBA and ICAR CIFE and stated that NABARD would offer its support for future endeavors.
The trainees were awarded certificates based on their performance in the evaluation test conducted at the end of the training. Dr.K.Ambasankar, Principal Scientist & Head, Nutrition Division of CIBA who was the Director- in-charge on 23.02.2024 distributed the certificates to the participants.
The programme was conducted by Dr.T.Ravisankar Principal Scientist & Course Director of insurance programme at CIBA and Dr.P.S.Ananthan Principal Scientist & Course Director from ICAR-CIFE Mumbai with their scientific teams.
