Unseasonal Rains Cause Rs.11,000 Crore Crop Loss in Gujarat, Relief Survey Ordered

Gandhinagar | Gujarat — The Gujarat government estimates reveal that the  unseasonal rains in Gujarat have wreaked havoc on the standing crops across over one million hectares of arable land, with a staggering loss of over Rs 11,000 crore.  

The impact on cash crops such as cotton and groundnut has been devastating, delivering a significant economic setback to farmers.  An agency linked to the government estimates that this Kharif season, the monsoon rains may have inflicted a staggering loss of over Rs 11,000 crore on the state’s agriculture sector.  As we move forward, the persistent rains throughout November may lead to a delay in the sowing of Rabi crops, potentially causing further challenges for farmers.

Gujarat CM orders physical survey of damages

On Saturday morning, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel convened a meeting with senior government officials, with Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi participating online.  The Chief Minister has directed the administration to finalize the physical survey of agricultural damage within a tight timeframe of 3 days.  The estimate will be ready by late Tuesday evening, followed by an announcement regarding the relief package during the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

In Gujarat, following Diwali, the Kharif crop harvesting season kicks off, but unfortunately, some of the crops left in the fields have been drenched and ruined.  This year, 20 lakh tonnes of groundnuts were lost in the fields, contrasting sharply with the estimated production of 65 lakh metric tonnes. Furthermore, the cotton crop has also suffered due to waterlogging.

A forecast indicates a significant 40 percent decrease in the output of one and a half lakh tonnes of cotton.  In addition to this, crops such as onion, garlic, soybean, tur, along with various fruits and vegetables, are also impacted.  In this scenario, a farmer experiencing over a 33 percent loss in crops is eligible to receive a maximum of Rs 22,000 for every two hectares, according to the SDRF guidelines.  In light of the hardships faced by the farmers, the government has the opportunity to introduce an additional compensation that aligns with the SDRF guidelines within the relief package.

Compensation will be provided only in the event of a loss exceeding 33 percent.

In the meeting held on Saturday, the government announced that farmers will receive compensation in accordance with SDRF regulations.  Only farmers experiencing a loss exceeding 33 percent will qualify for assistance.  Farmers will receive compensation ranging from Rs 8,500 to Rs 11,000 per hectare for up to two hectares, based on the specific crop they cultivate.  The compensation amount will be determined based on the survey results.

The survey must be conducted in person in Digital Gujarat.

A government organization in Gujarat has initiated an online survey to assess the impact of agricultural losses.  This survey aimed to incorporate details of agricultural losses via a mobile application, allowing for precise calculations of the figures involved.  In response to widespread protests across Gujarat, the government swiftly directed the agency to halt the online survey.  The agricultural losses survey in Digital Gujarat will now be conducted exclusively in person.