Maha lowers calamity-hit crop loss percentage to 33 per cent

Maharashtra government today decided to bring down the crop loss percentage, which is crucial in awarding compensation to farmers whose crop is hit by natural calamities, to 33 per cent from existing 50 per cent.
The state cabinet also raised the amount of compensation by 50 per cent.
As per the new directive, farmers who toil crop on non- irrigated land will get compensation of Rs 6,800 up to two hectares from existing Rs 4,500 in case of damage due to natural calamities, while those with irrigated land are entitled to get Rs 13,500 up to two hectares from Rs 9,000, a release said.

Similarly, the compensation for horticulture (all-year) crops is hiked to Rs 18,000 from Rs 12,000 for up to two hectares.
As per the existing rules, farmers are entitled for government aid only if 50 per cent--and above that--of their crop is damaged, whereas villages with crop yield of less than 50 paise get benefit of the scarcity-affected areas.
Central government has already brought down the cap for compensation to 33 per cent from 50 per cent, the release said.

Natural disasters include cyclone, earthquake, fire, flood, Tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, cloudburst, cold wave, drought.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appointed secretary-level officers for each sub-division in Yavatmal and Osmanabad which are 'farmer-suicide-prone' districts.

The secretaries will work to resolve agrarian crisis in these areas, according to the release.
The officers have been entrusted with the task of overseeing relief and rehabilitation work of farmers hit due to the agrarian crisis.