China's insurance companies have been urged to create more affordable and innovative cover plans for farmers and migrant workers to support the government's efforts to expand insurance coverage and establish a harmonious society.

"Developing insurance for farmers, migrant workers and agriculture will be a major task for us this year," Wu Dingfu, chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC), said yesterday at the country's annual insurance conference.

Around 91 percent of farmers in 63 counties participated in a rural healthcare project last year under which 6.73 million of them received a combined 600 million yuan as compensation in healthcare spending.

Meanwhile, over 30 million migrant workers from 22 provinces were insured last year, with their coverage value reaching 770 billion yuan.

"We will further strengthen our investment in rural areas this year by adding more outlets and improving marketing channels," said Wu Yan, general manager of China Life Insurance Co, the country's largest life insurer.

CIRC statistics show that agriculture insurance premiums sky-rocketed 16.2 percent last year, hitting 850 million yuan.

"We are now working on legislation for agriculture insurance and will further promote the reserve system for agriculture catastrophe insurance," said Wu Dingfu.

(China Daily January 22, 2007)