Nanded has become the first district in Maharashtra to receive 100 per cent compensation for crop losses caused by heavy rains and natural calamities, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne announced.
According to the news agency PTI, relief distribution, amounting to Rs 553.48 crore, will begin on Monday, the minister said. An additional Rs 20.81 crore has also been sanctioned to support eroded and silt-affected farmlands.
According to Bharne, lists of affected farmers are being uploaded to the government portal as part of a special drive, and the sanctioned compensation will be directly transferred to their bank accounts.
“Nanded is the first district where farmers impacted by heavy rains will receive 100 per cent relief,” Bharne stated.
As per official data, crops spread across 648,533 hectares were damaged, affecting nearly 7.74 lakh farmers. Around 86 per cent of the district’s Kharif sowing area was hit by incessant rains.
The major affected crops include soybean, cotton, tur, moong, urad, jowar, vegetables, turmeric, and banana.
As per the news agency PTI, compensation has been fixed at Rs 8,500 per hectare for rain-fed crops, Rs 17,000 per hectare for irrigated crops, and Rs 22,500 per hectare for horticulture crops.
The government is working on a war footing to ensure maximum assistance reaches farmers, the minister said.
Earlier, in the first phase, the government sanctioned Rs 73.54 crore for crop damage during June and July across Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur, Hingoli, Solapur, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.
Under the second phase of relief measures for crop losses due to heavy rains since August, compensation for Nanded has been cleared, and for other districts, it will be announced soon, Bharne said.
Nitin Gadkari says, ‘AI will bring revolution in agriculture, make farmers` conditions better’
Earlier, on September 12, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, while putting light on artificial intelligence and its use in agricultural activities, said that he believes that AI will usher in a revolution in the agriculture sector and help improve the conditions of farmers.
Gadkari said that, “Do visit Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Baramati and see the innovative methods being adopted there. AI will definitely help farmers. I believe AI will revolutionise the agriculture sector,” as cited by news agency PTI.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, speaking about ethanol production, also said that 350-400 factories produce ethanol in the country and farmers have benefited substantially from it.
“With ethanol produced from maize, farmers earned Rs 45,000 crore. Earlier, the maize rate was Rs 1,200 per quintal, which has now increased to Rs 2,800 per quintal. The agricultural area under maize has tripled. Those who wish to oppose it, I won`t bother. My path is clean,” Nitin Gadkari asserted.
Clarifying the buzz that has been going around the social media platforms, the Union Road Transport Minister highlighted that the social media rage over the blending of 20 per cent ethanol in petrol fuel was a ‘paid campaign’ to target him politically.
(With PTI inputs)
