What is the reason the large-scale grower did not receive compensation?

This year the flood season came early, and most autumn crops in Anhui Province had not yet been covered by policy-based insurance. However, Anhui Province stipulates that as long as one participated in agricultural insurance in previous years, compensation can be obtained this year regardless of whether a policy was issued. Lao Xu, a large-scale grower in Rongcheng Town, Qingyang County, did not enroll in time when the village committee notified him to insure. So, can he still receive compensation?

Recently, Lao Xu told reporters that he had contracted three plots of farmland totalling more than 800 mu in Guanbu Village, Dingqiao Town, in his county, growing rice, wheat, rapeseed and other crops.

In 2014 and 2015, the rice he grew was covered by Guoyuan Agricultural Insurance. However, last autumn, the rapeseed grown on one plot of more than 180 mu was not insured.

In the first half of this year, Lao Xu harvested the rapeseed. In June, he planted rice on this plot of farmland. On July 4 this year, a rare flood occurred locally, and the more than 180 mu of rice he had planted suffered a total crop failure. After the flood, he prepared to pay the premium and enroll in insurance, but the insurance company refused.

Lao Xu believes that even though his rice was not insured this year, according to provincial regulations he should still be able to obtain compensation. His reasoning is that on July 5, Zhang Ziliang, general manager of Guoyuan Group and chairman of Guoyuan Agricultural Insurance Company, and his delegation said while guiding flood-fighting and disaster-relief work in Anqing that because this year's flood season and disaster came early, fast, fiercely and severely, even if premiums had not yet been collected and underwriting inspections not yet completed, as long as the crops had been planted in previous years and the variety and area were unchanged, Guoyuan Insurance would still bear compensation liability, giving insured disaster-affected farmers a "reassurance pill."

"This plot of land of mine grew rice last year, and this year it also grows rice. The variety and area are the same, and my rice suffered a total crop failure. The insurance company should compensate me 40,000 to 50,000 yuan according to the standard of 243.6 yuan per mu for total crop failure," Lao Xu said. He applied to the insurance company for compensation, but the company refused. He believes the company has no justification and is deliberately making things difficult for him.

So, can Lao Xu obtain compensation? A person surnamed Shen, head of the agricultural insurance department of the Provincial Guoyuan Agricultural Insurance Company, explained that according to regulations, crops that have already been disaster-affected cannot be insured. Lao Xu applied to the insurance company for insurance after the disaster, and the local insurance company was not wrong to refuse his enrollment.

This person in charge introduced that the province stipulates that those who did not manage to enroll this year and suffered flood damage can obtain compensation. However, as early as mid-June, village officials approached Lao Xu to insure, but he did not enroll. Afterwards he explained that it was not that he was unwilling, but that he was busy with farm work and had no time to enroll. This is not a reason. "He was notified to pay the premium, and he did not participate, so he cannot obtain compensation."

Whether participating in Guoyuan Agricultural Insurance or the New Rural Cooperative Medical System, once crops are disaster-affected or one falls ill, compensation or reimbursement can be obtained. Most farmers know the benefits. But some farmers hold a false sense of luck and are not proactive in enrolling. Once disaster strikes or illness occurs, it is too late for regret. It can be seen how important and necessary it is for farmer friends to actively participate in policy-based insurance!