PANAJI
In a financial relief to around 1300 farmers, who were impacted due to monsoon-related crop losses, the State agriculture department on Wednesday released Rs 70 lakh in compensation to these farmers, without Krishi Card.
Another 2,646 farmers, having a Krishi card, would be given benefits in the coming two to three days in a phased manner. These farmers would be paid a total Rs 2.91 crore in compensation for the crop damage.
Speaking to The Goan, Agriculture Director Sandeep Faldesai said that the department will ensure that Rs 2 crore compensation is disbursed to the farmers before the Ganesh festival, as promised by the Chief Minister.
He said that today (Wednesday), in the first batch, the department has released funds to 1300 small-time farmers, who had no Krishi card or were cultivating on other’s land or communidade land.
“In the second phase compensation would be released to paddy farmers and then to the farmers doing plantations,” he said.
The heavy rainfall during the first months of monsoon caused massive crop damage, particularly the seasonal horticulture crops. The rains also affected the newly planted paddy seedlings throughout the State.
The compensation is provided under the Shetkari Aadhar Nidhi scheme. Under the scheme, compensation is provided to the farmers who experience agriculture losses due to various factors such as floods, cyclones, unseasonal rain, cloudburst and other natural calamities.
