New Delhi: Unseasonal rains have destroyed over 10 lakh hectares of standing crop across the country. The heavy loss is likely to have an adverse effect on prices of food items which may rise putting the Narendra Modi government in a crisis situation.
One of the worst affected places is Maharashtra where around 40,000 hectares of standing rabi crop has been damaged. On the other hand 26 out of the 33 districts in Rajasthan have been affected and 40 per cent of the mustard production has been destroyed. Loss of cattle has also been reported from some parts of the state.
Ludhiana and Jalandhar are the worst affected areas in Punjab with almost 40-50 per cent of early sown wheat affected. In Uttar Pradesh the rain has destroyed 70 per cent of wheat and 10 per cent of mango crop has been destroyed in Amreli district of Gujarat. The famous kesar mango is grown over 6700 hectares of land in Amreli district alone. Damage has also been reported to the cumin and mustard crop that is grown over hundreds of hectares in Saurashtra and North Gujarat.
Gujarat Agriculture Minister Babu Bokhiria assured that the state government would take all necessary steps to ensure that farmers get compensation for losses they have incurred on their crops due to the recent unseasonal rains.
The Maharashtra government has announced that it will waive off farmer loans taken from private money lenders. Two to 2.3 lakh farmers from Vidarbha and Marathwada have taken loans worth Rs 156 crore added to which is Rs 15 crore of interest that will be waived off.
The state government has asked districts to carry out a survey of the extent of damage to crops. The crop assessment report is expected by March 25 after which the relief package will be decided.
Centre has promised to take all administrative and relief measures to help farmers hit by unseasonal rain and hailstorm in North and Western India. Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed to all Chief Ministers of states to try their best and resolve the farmers concerns. "Government will also help state governments in providing aid to farmers," said Singh.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, taking immediate action on the issue, said that they would need to start a revolving fund to help farmers. She assured the victims that the central government would extend all the support to the affected farmers.
Nashik Collector and District Magistrate, Deependra Singh Kushwah said that due to unseasonal rains, more than 60,000 hectare area had been affected of all crops in the last 6 months. "The gravity of this rain is very high. Damage of crops is more than 50 per cent. We have received a communication that the grants will be received in the next few days. And we will distribute it immediately. Farmers will get the money directly in their account," he informed.
The hailstorm that hit Nashik and other parts of Maharashtra has affected onion, pomegranate and grape crop. The Uttar Pradesh government has already announced a compensation package for the farmers.
Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati said in Lok Sabha that besides the crop loss due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm, farmers were faced with another problem of the proposal to amend the Land Acquisition Act to "dilute" the provisions of the 2013 law.
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