State to roll out scheme for ‘drought-hit’ farmers today

Ranchi: The state agriculture departmentis drafting an action plan to tide over the impending dangers of drought during the ongoing kharif season. Farmers will be registered under the Jharkhand Rajya Fasal Rahat Yojana (JRFRY) from Friday to provide them with financial assistance, sources said
Agriculture minister Badal Patralekh on Thursday said the districts have been asked to set up district and block-level panels to assess the ground situation of paddy coverage vis-à-vis rainfall.
Talking to TOI, Patralekh said, “Rainfall is 50% lower than normal. Paddy could be sown in less than 10% of the 18 lakh hectare area. We will start registration of farmers under the JRFRY from Friday to provide them with financial assistance. All districts have been asked to prepare contingency plans, alternative road-maps, and promote drought-resistant crops.”
Under JRFRY, farmers will get maximum fiscal compensation of Rs 20,000 on up to five acres of land in the event of crop loss due to weather vagaries. To avail it, farmers will have to get themselves enrolled on http://jrfry.jharkhand.gov.in.
A farmer will get Rs 3000 per acre for 30-50% crop loss and Rs 4000 per acre if the crop loss is more than 50% from state coffers. “Per farmer, we shall give compensation on maximum of five acres. We will launch special drive to enroll farmers through 20,000 common service centres and camps in the state,” he said.
He added that they will wait for another 10 days before approaching the Centre to declare drought. He has convened meeting with expert agencies on July 28.