Thiruvananthapuram: The Animal Husbandry Department is preparing to launch a new scheme to insure all cattle in the state. The scheme aims to help farmers recover from financial loss caused by the sudden death of high-yielding cattle or loss of productivity and reproductive ability.

If a cow dies due to illness or becomes severely diseased, the farmer will receive an insurance payout of ₹60,000 to ₹65,000. The scheme also covers losses caused by natural calamities.

Insurance coverage will also be provided to the farmer. In the case of accidental death or full/partial disability, compensation of up to ₹5 lakh will be given. To avail of ₹5 lakh coverage, the farmer needs to pay only ₹100 as the premium.

For cattle valued at ₹65,000, the premium is ₹437 for a one-year policy and ₹1,071 for a three-year policy. This includes an 85% subsidy from the government. In the first phase, at least 2,320 cattle will be insured under the one-year scheme and 400 under the three-year scheme.

Eligibility guidelines

  1. Only cows and buffaloes aged between two and 10 years are eligible for insurance.
  2. Milking cows must have a minimum daily yield of 7 litres.
  3. Pregnant heifers (cows and buffaloes that have not yet given birth to a calf.) in the final trimester, and dry (cow that is not currently producing milk) pregnant cows with over seven months of gestation, will also be covered.
  4. Animals will be selected for insurance by the department’s veterinary surgeon.
  5. Only healthy animals that have received all mandatory vaccinations will be eligible.
  6. A 12-digit polyurethane ear tag is mandatory for identifying insured cattle.