Kapilvastu, October 14:

Farmers in Kapilvastu district have launched a community livestock insurance programme to spare themselves from heavy losses due to sudden death of livestock.

Members of 11 community organisations based in Bashkhor VDC have started the programme with the help of Poverty Alleviation Fund launched by the government and funded by the World Bank.

Under the programme, farmers have to pay a premium of six per cent of the value of buffaloes and 10 per cent of the value of sheep and goats. The programme will provide 80 per cent of the value to the farmers in case of death of cattle and 40 per cent if the cattle fall sick.

Profit generated from the programme would go to the VDC Insurance Fund, which would be used to launch more income generating activites for the farmers.

The Poverty Alleviation Fund has pledged to support Rs 50,000 as a seed money for the programme and Rs 25,000 to set up a livestock drug store.