The state governments, under the existing State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) norms, can currently provide assistance to affected farmers at the rate of Rs. 4,500 per hectare for areas which are rain-fed, Rs. 9000 per hectare for areas which are irrigated by farmers, and Rs. 12,000 per hectare for crops that are perennial in nature. But experts feel that this compensation amount may not prove to be enough. Small and marginal farmers, who may have lost more than half of their standing Rabi crops and horticulture products, will surely feel the heat.
The agriculture ministry has asked affected states to enlist the financial particulars of total crop damage and submit their reports. The final nod on raising the compensation limit for farmers shall be received after discussions with the Finance Ministry next month. Although Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has already expressed the government’s desire to up the relief limit in order to assist farmers affected by the unruly weather in March.
Latest reports from the agriculture ministry suggest that non-seasonal rains and hailstorms have damaged close to 106.73 lakh hectares of lands in some 14 states. Rajasthan (45.52 lakh hectares) tops the list of states reporting maximum damage. Uttar Pradesh (26.79 lakh hectares), Haryana (18.75 lakh hectares), Madhya Pradesh (5.7 lakh hectares), Maharashtra (3.95 lakh hectares), Punjab (2.94 lakh hectares), and Himachal Pradesh (1.52 lakh hectares) are other top losers. With more rain lashing parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan towards the tail-end of March, these figures are expected to rise.