Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday announced a 25 per cent upward revision in the compensation for the crop loss borne by farmers. During a whirlwind tour of villages in Moga, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, and Patiala to assess the crop damage caused by rain, he said that if the loss to a farmer is more than 75% then the state government will compensate the farmers with Rs 15,000 per acre.
If the loss was between 33% to 75% then the farmers will get compensation worth Rs 6750 per acre, he added.
Similarly, the Chief Minister announced that the farm labourers will get 10% as compensation, Rs 95100 will be paid as compensation for full house damage and Rs 5200 will be given for minor damage to houses.
The announced decisions aim to bring relief to farmers facing crop loss amid unseasonal rains.
As announced in the recent Punjab Budget 2023, CM Mann emphasised that his government will soon introduce a crop insurance scheme.
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He remarked that the crop insurance scheme announced by the Union government remains confined to the papers but the AAP scheme will give real succor to the farmers.
He mentioned how 20 minutes of hailstorm bring distress to farmers and that crop insurance will secure their interests.
CM Mann assured the farmers that the state government will support them in this hour of crisis and no stone will be left unturned for their welfare.
“Punjab government is, was and shall ever be committed to the welfare of the farmers and farm labourers of the State,” the Chief Minister said.
He emphasised that the AAP Government has always been a votary of the farmers and their rights and that his government has taken appropriate steps to safeguard the interests of the farmers.
The incessant rainfall is not good for the standing wheat and other Rabi crops and the intensity and frequency of rains coupled with high-velocity winds and hailstorms have caused substantial damage to the crops and impaired the livelihood of a large number of farmers, he noted.
Bhagwant Mann informed initial reports indicate that cultivated area over several acres has been affected as at this stage Rabi crops were almost ready for a good harvesting season.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that in cases where farmers would not be able to harvest or their crops' yield was reduced, they were likely to lose nearly a full season and resultantly suffer serious damage to their livelihood.
He assured farmers that government would duly compensate those whose standing crops have been affected due to recent heavy rains coupled with high-velocity winds and hailstorms.
Bhagwant Mann mentioned that he directed the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) to issue detailed instructions to the concerned Deputy Commissioners to immediately carry out special girdawari in the areas lashed by rains to ascertain the damage caused to crops, orchards, and houses on priority.
The Chief Minister further said that from April 1 canal water will be made available for cotton crop cultivation to the farmers. He said that the water supply will be ensured in the cotton belt of the state so as to ensure that cotton cultivators are benefited significantly.
It is the need of the hour to ensure that water was made available to the cotton cultivators during the sowing season, Bhagwant Mann said.
The state government is taking several decisions to make agriculture a profitable venture, he mentioned.
He said that MSP is being offered to farmers for alternate crops to bring them out of the rut of the wheat and paddy cycle and to save the state’s water.
Bhagwant Mann highlighted that a major thrust is being laid on promotion of agriculture-allied activities so that the income of farmers is supplemented.
The Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure that the report is submitted at the earliest so that adequate compensation as per government's norms is given to the affected people.
He assured people that the government is committed to safeguarding their interests against nature’s fury.
Bhagwant Mann said that every effort will be made to compensate the farmers and labourers for the losses suffered due to the current spell of recent rains in the state.