The Gujarat state government has just announced a massive ₹947 crore relief package for farmers who were hit hard by heavy rains in August and September. Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani said the money is split between the State Disaster Response Fund (₹563 crore) and the state budget (₹384 crore).
The aid targets farmers in five districts – Junagadh, Panchmahal, Kutch, Patan and Vav‑Tharad – and 18 sub‑districts. Roughly 800 villages reported major crop damage, from groundnut, cotton and millet to fodder, vegetables, pulses and even fruit trees like pomegranate.
Under the relief rules, those with more than 33 % crop loss get:
* ₹12 000 per hectare for non‑irrigated crops (₹8 500 from SDRF + ₹3 500 from state funds) – up to 2 ha per farmer.
* ₹22 000 per hectare for irrigated crops (₹17 000 SDRF + ₹5 000 state) – up to 2 ha per farmer.
* ₹27 500 per hectare for perennial horticultural crops (₹22 500 SDRF + ₹5 000 state) – up to 2 ha per farmer.
In addition, the government is tackling a long‑standing problem of water‑logging in low‑lying areas of Vav‑Tharad and Patan. A new flood‑mitigation project, the first of its kind in Gujarat, now has an initial fund of ₹2.5 crore, with a possibility to expand to ₹5 crore if needed. Farmers doing land‑restoration work will also get ₹20 000 per hectare under a special budget provision.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said meetings were held even during the festive season to make sure no farmer is left behind. “The Prime Minister has taken many steps to protect farmers’ interests. Gujarat remains committed to timely relief and lasting solutions for our farming community,” Vaghani added.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
