Alleviate farmers' lot: CM Fadnavis to babus

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that the panchnama (on-the-spot assessment) of the damaged crops due to unseasonal rains would be carried out within three days in order to provide immediate financial assistance to affected farmers.

Mr Fadnavis was speaking in Akola district, where he met farmers and reviewed crop damage caused due to unseasonal rains.

He visited Lakhanwada, Chikhalgaon and Mhaispur Phata villages to inspect the damages and interact with aggrieved farmers.

The current situation would be treated just the way we treat a drought situation. The survey of crop losses will be completed by November 6, the CM said.

“Due to the unseasonal rains, almost entire crops have been damaged. The crops of cotton, soybean and Tur have suffered massively. The government machinery should understand the seriousness of the situation and carry out the panchnamas with immediate effect. The administration should act sensitively while carrying out spot assessment. If necessary, more manpower will be made available from Agriculture University and other departments,” he added.

“I assure all farmers that the state government firmly stands with our farmers & all the necessary steps and assistance will be provided (sic)”, Mr Fadnavis later tweeted.

Mr Fadnavis suggested starting a helpline to help alleviate the hardships faced by farmers. He also asked concerned officials to act as mediators between insurance companies and farmers, so that the latter could get quick and maximum assistance. Moreover, officials were told to ensure that not a single farmer would be deprived of any financial assistance.

The state government on Saturday approved '10,000 crore as a special provision to provide immediate assistance to farmers affected by unseasonal rains.

Important crops such as jawar, paddy, cotton, maize, tur and soya bean on 54.22 lakh hectares of land spread across 325 talukas have been damaged.