STAR-BULLETIN FILE / 1997
Hawaii crops, including coffee and bananas, could be eligible for federal insurance under new programs.
KAILUA-KONA >> Coffee, banana and tropical fruit growers would be eligible for federal crop insurance under programs being prepared by University of Hawaii agricultural economist Kent Fleming. More crops may get
federal insuranceStar-Bulletin staff
Hawaii is far behind the Mainland, where practically all crops have insurance, Fleming said. "It is so important on the Mainland that banks simply will not lend to farms that do not have crop insurance in place," he said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture supplies insurance for only two crops here, macadamia nuts and nursery items such as flowers.
The federal government pays half of the cost of annual premiums, Fleming said. Paperwork is administered by private insurance companies, but the government holds money paid in for eventual disbursement.
To extend the program, Fleming, from the university's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, has already held a round of meetings with farmers to determine that they want the service.
Consulting firm Agri-Logic Inc. is representing the Department of Agriculture at the next round, which will focus on detail of how the program should be set up.
Meetings will be held in extension offices in Kainaliu, Kona, Nov. 13; Komohana, Hilo, Nov. 15; Kahului, Maui, Nov. 18; Pearl City, Nov. 22; and Kauai, Nov. 25. all meetings are at 2:30 p.m. For more information on the meetings, call 322-9136 on the Big Island.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agri-Logic Inc.
