Odisha govt releases Rs 364.76 crores for farmers affected by unseasonal rain

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government on Wednesday released Rs 364.76 crores to collectors of 19 districts for payment of agriculture input subsidy to the farmers affected by the unseasonal rain in November this year.

The government released the fund after notified an area of 40,7100.77 hectares in 14720 villages under 2460 Gram Panchayats of 133 Blocks and 257 wards of 38 urban local bodies in 19 districts as affected by unseasonal rain occurred under the influence of cyclonic depression.

The farmers, whose agriculture/ horticulture crops are affected to the extent of 33% or above, will get agriculture input subsidy at the rate Rs.6,800 per hectare in case of rainfed areas and Rs. 13,500 in case of areas under assured irrigation.

The assistance for farmers having land holdings of more than 2 ha. will be limited to 2 hectares.

The districts which suffered crop damage due to cyclonic depression induced unseasonal rain during 15th to 20th of November are Balasore, Bhadrak, Boudh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsingpur, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Puri and Rayagada.

The farmers will get the assistance in shape of agriculture input subsidy.

Under the direction of the state government, the district collectors conducted a quick assessment of crop loss through field visit of officials and furnished their reports to the Special Relief Commissioner.