BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday declared the unseasonal rains in December as a natural calamity to facilitate payment of compensation to the affected farmers from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
Announcing the decision at the inaugural ceremony of the Krushi Odisha conclave here, the chief minister said farmers who have suffered crop loss of more than 33 per cent will be eligible for the ex gratia payment. The state government will provide Rs 291.95 crore from SDRF as input subsidy to the farmers for damage to crops through DBT mode.
The move assumes significance as the state government has announced that all farmers who have suffered crop loss due to the rains will be compensated, irrespective of insurance coverage. Unseasonal rains was not listed as a calamity in the Relief Code making it difficult for the government to provide compensation to farmers who don’t have insurance cover.
“Taking into consideration the huge loss suffered by the farmers, the decision was made to include the unseasonal rains as a natural calamity. This will facilitate compensation payment through SDRF,” Majhi said
The rains which occurred in two phases between December 20 and 28 caused extensive damage to crops across several districts during kharif harvesting period, with Ganjam being the worst hit. At least, nine farmers have also lost their lives by suicide or shock over losing their crops.
The chief minister said according to a report of the collectors, 33 per cent or more crop loss has been reported in 2,26,791 hectares of land of 6,66,720 farmers. Besides, 2.61 lakh farmers have applied under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the compensation of which is being paid to them.
Asserting that the government was committed to alleviate all problems of the farmers, Majhi said, “Apart from the input subsidy, the government is also examining other ways through which the affected farmers can get assistance.”
He said that maximum farmers got the opportunity to register for assistance as the state government requested the Centre for extension of deadline which was readily accepted. Majhi also announced that the state government will provide all assistance to the affected farmers for the upcoming Rabi crops.
The chief minister also called upon the farmers to make Odisha self-sufficient in food production. Barring rice, Odisha continues to import all other food grains, vegetables, fish and eggs from other states which needs to change, he said.
Elaborating on steps taken by the government for welfare of farmers, the chief minister said the farmers are now being provided Rs 3,100 per quintal of paddy that includes MSP of Rs 2,300 and additional input subsidy of Rs 800 per quintal. Till now over 2.93 lakh farmers have been paid MSP of more than Rs 3,000 crore and input subsidy of Rs 1,000 crore.
Besides, the chief minister said, over 45.57 lakh small and marginal farmers and 39,303 landless farmer families have been provided financial assistance of Rs 925 crore under the CM-KISAN scheme. Similarly, farmers with agricultural land are also being paid Rs 6,000 in three installments under the scheme, he added.