Aid for crops damaged in hailstorms doubled

Financial assistance will be given at the rate of Rs 30,000 per hectare for damage of more than 50 per cent of irrigated crops and Rs 16,000 per hectare for rain-based crops due to hail storm in February last.

At present, the amount of Rs 15,000 and Rs 8,000 is given, respectively. Amendments have been made in parameters and assistance to be provided under Revenue Book Code section 6-4, by the state government for giving to farmers for crop damage due to hail storming in February 2018 and assistance in the future. It may be mentioned that the announcement about the increase in the grant assistance was made by the Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the month of February during the inspection of crops affected by the hailstorm.

Principal Secretary, Revenue, Arun Pandey informed that new parameters have been fixed for all crops grown, which include vegetable cultivation, farming of spices, Isabgol, watermelon, melon whether they are on the bank of river or farms, including all fruit bearing trees, crops grown on them, mango, orange, lemon, banana, grapes and pomegranate cultivation and pan leaves. Grant assistance will be given at per hectare rate of Rs 5000 for rain based crops, Rs 9000 for irrigated crop, Rs 9000 for perennial (if damage in less than six months), Rs 15000 for perennial (if damage after over six months) and Rs 18000 for vegetable, spices and Isabgol farming for damage of 25 to 33 per cent damage to small and marginal farmers who own agriculture land up to two hectare.