Farmers hit by unseasonal rain to get relief, says UP CM Yogi Adityanath

LUCKNOW: Chairing a meeting to assess the loss arising due to heavy showers and hailstorms across the state over the past few days, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the relief commissioner to assess the damage faced by farmers and issue compensation as soon as possible.
The CM said due to natural causes, there was a chance that crops like wheat could be damaged and in this light, such crops should also be procured under minimum support price. He asked the department concerned to prepare a proposal to relax the rules as per the requirement. "Due to untimely rain and hailstorms in March, farmers and agricultural produce have been adversely affected. In the last 24 hours, I have got information of hailstorm in nine districts," he said.
Determine damage to crops and loss incurred by farmers at the earliest: CM
I n this hour of crisis, the state government stands with the farmers,” the CM said. In light of an advisory issued by the Indian Meteorological Department which said that the situation was likely to last for two to three more days, Yogi said all departments and district administrations should remain vigilant.
He said that an as sessment to determine the damage to crops and loss incurred by farmers must be carried out at the earliest so that compensation can be issued by the relief commissioner’s office. To ensure that proper precautions can be taken to reduce the extent of damage, the CM said, it was necessary to provide timely information about weather disturbances to farmers.
Met warning should be made available to farmers in remote villages through TV, newspapers and local administration, he added, saying that the forecast should be for 24-48 hours. “If any resident of the state dies due to a natural calamity, or if someone is injured in a human-wildlife conflict, the victim’s family should be contacted immediately and provided financial assistance from the Disaster Relief Fund at the relief commissioner level.
Due to natural reasons like rain, strong wind, hailstorm the crops like wheat can sustain damage. The quality of the crop is also likely to be affected. Such crops should also be procured under MSP,” the CM said. He also pointed out that due to the possible loss of wheat crop, there was likely to be a shortage of straw this year. In such a situation, he added, arrangements for cattle fodder should be made by the animal husbandry department.