Govt announces drought package for farmers

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Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday announced package for farmers affected due to drought in 66 blocks and 16 urban local bodies (ULBs) of four districts.
Naveen chaired a high-level review meeting in this regard and asked various departments to ensure that the package reaches all the affected farmers.
Agriculture input subsidy will be provided to the small and marginal farmers who have sustained crop loss of 33 per cent and above. While a compensation of `6,800 per ha of land will be given for the rain-fed or non-irrigated areas, `13,500 per ha will be provided for areas under assured irrigation programme.
The Agriculture department will distribute one lakh pulses mini kits, 30,000 oilseed mini kits, and 20,000 vegetable seed kits to the drought affected farmers during Rabi 2018-19, Naveen said.
The Chief Minister has also announced to provide 3,000 pump sets with 50 per cent subsidy (maximum of `15,000) and another 1,000 pump sets (maximum of `54,000) under Saura Jalanidhi scheme to the affected farmers. Fresh crop loan will be provided to the affected farmers during current Rabi season.
Similarly, the government would provide 3,000 sprayers to the affected farmers at 50 per cent subsidy (up to a maximum of `3,800 per battery-operated sprayer and `600 per hand-operated sprayer). Additional 50 man-days will be provided under MGNREGA by creating irrigation infrastructure.
As per the package, short term Kharif loans advanced in the affected areas during Kharif-2018 having crop loss of 33 per cent and above will be converted into medium term loan. And, the due date of Kharif short-term loan advanced has been extended up to September 30. The state will also request the Centre to provide interest incentive of 3 per cent for medium term loan.
The CM also announced to provide financial assistance to 20,000 landless, small and marginal farmers for their livelihood. District administration has been asked to put strict vigil on money lenders, who are exploiting the farmers.
The government has also announced 100 per cent remission of cess on land revenue and compulsory basic water rate will be given to affected farmers. Besides, school fees and examination fees up to high school level in government schools have been waived in the affected areas.
As many as 5,633 villages (1,186 panchayats) in 66 blocks and 16 urban local bodies (ULBs) of nine districts –Bargarh, Bolangir, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sundargarh –have suffered crop loss of 33 per cent and above due to moisture stress. Crop damage has been reported in over 2,33,173 hectares in these areas.