Aizawl, Oct 28: The Mizoram government will soon launch a crop insurance scheme to safeguard farmers from financial losses arising from crop failure or damage caused by natural disasters, pests, or diseases, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister PC Vanlalruata said on Monday.

He said a state-level coordination committee on crop insurance has already been constituted, and a general insurance company has been selected through a tender process.

“One of our key poll promises was to purchase agricultural products and introduce crop insurance to protect farmers from financial losses. The chief minister is giving due attention to the welfare of farmers. We will now be able to implement the insurance scheme,” Vanlalruata said while addressing a ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) function in Aizawl.

The minister added that the government is also fulfilling its commitment to procure agricultural produce directly from farmers. Referring to irregularities in ginger trade, he said an investigation is underway.

Despite a fall in ginger prices, the government procured the crop from farmers as promised during the 2023 Assembly elections. The ZPM had pledged to buy five key crops—ginger, turmeric, chili, broomsticks, and unhusked rice—under its flagship handholding scheme, ‘Bana Kaih,’ launched in September last year.

Officials said about Rs 140 crore has been spent or released as support price for raw ginger procurement, while Rs 350 crore has been allocated in the 2025–26 fiscal for implementing the scheme.