Gujarat to Compensate Farmers for Crop Damaged due to Heavy Rainfall

Heavy rains in Gujarat have led 50% dams towards overflow levels. Farmers with loss above 33% to be given financial relief post survey. 

After excess rainfall in most parts of the state that caused extensive damage & crop loss of kharif crops. The Gujarat government has announced compensation to farmers for the damages, under the SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) on 1/09/2020, Tuesday. 

The state government will conduct a survey to assess the quantity of damage & crop loss. The survey will be completed within next 15 days & farmers having crop loss or damages in excess of 33% will be provided financial assistance on the basis of SDRF, said the Gujarat’s Agriculture Minister, RC Faldu. 

The survey work has been carried out in the fields where rain water has receded in those flooded regions. The state has received rainfall of over 125% of its Long Period Average (LPA), so there will be adequate water available for farming in the coming Rabi & Summer crop seasons. 

According to farmer sources, most of the regions in Saurashtra, Kutch & south Gujarat have received heavy downpours causing damage to key kharif crops such as groundnut, cotton & castor. 

Gujarat has seen total kharif sowing on 84.48 lakh hectares, which is nearly 2 lakh hectares more than last year’s 82.8 lakh hectares. Groundnut cultivation is reported on 20.65 lakh hectares, cotton on 22.77 lakh hectares, Castor on 5.19 lakh hectares, pulses on 4.36 lakh hectares & cereals on 13.47 lakh hectares.