Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced a package for farmers affected by Cyclone Yaas which hit the coastal districts on May 26.
As per the package, an input subsidy of Rs 6,800 per hectare will be given to small, nominal farmers with over 33 per cent crop damage in unirrigated land while in irrigated areas, farmers will get input subsidy of Rs 13,500 per hectare.
Similarly, Rs 18,000 per hectare will be given for land growing all weather crops like mango, cashew nut, coconut and kewra. A minimum subsidy of Rs 2,000 for all weather crops and Rs 1,000 for other crops will be provided.
Farmers in the affected districts will also be provided with 1.5 lakh quintals of high-quality certified paddy seeds with a 25 per cent discount on the current rebate for the 2021 Kharif season. The rebate will be credited directly to the farmer’s account through direct benefit transfer (DBT).
In irrigated areas, input subsidies of Rs 13,500 per hectare and Rs 18,000 per hectare for all weather crops and other crops will be provided. Mango, cashew, coconut, betel, kewda and other crops are included in this category.
One lakh farmers will be included in the seed refining programme for 1 lakh acres of land for higher yields during the Kharif season.
Farmers adopting improved farming methods, such as row sowing and row harvesting, will be given an incentive of Rs 1,500 per hectare.
Farmers in the affected areas will be provided with 2,000 pump sets and 3,000 sprayers at a discounted price. A maximum amount of Rs 15,000 will be given for a 50 per cent discount for pump sets, a maximum of Rs 3,800 for a 50 per cent discount for power sprayer and a maximum rebate of Rs 750 will be given per hand sprayer.
An incentive of Rs 15,000 per person will be provided to 125 farmers of betel leaf cultivation through DBT.
A total of 10,000 farmers will be provided with high-quality saplings at a cost of Rs 115 for growing vegetables.
Short-term loans to farmers with crop loss of more than 33 per cent in the affected areas will be converted into medium-term loans.
Rs 40,000 will be provided to 50 mushroom cultivation units. Farmers will alsobe provided 10,000 vegetable mini kits worth Rs 110 each for free of cost.
Compensation loss of livestock by farmers
Cyclone-affected fishermen will get Rs 4,100 for the repair of their partially damaged boat and Rs 2,100 for the damaged net. Besides, Rs 9,600 will be given for fully damaged boats and Rs 2,600 for completely damaged fishing nets.
Rs 2,100 will be provided for the reconstruction of the cattle shelters to farmers who have lost cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry due to Cyclone Yaas. While a sum of Rs 30,000 has been announced for dairy cattle, Rs 25,000 will be provided for non-dairy animals. Similarly, for a maximum of six calves Rs 16,000 per calf, Rs 3,000 up to 30 goats/sheep and Rs 50 per chicken will be given to affected farmers.
An input subsidy of Rs 12,200 per hectare for the renovation of damaged fish/fish seed farms and Rs 8,200 per hectare will be provided for damaged fish seed farms.
Many handicraft and handloom artisans have been affected by Cyclone Yaas. Handloom and handicraft workers will be provided Rs 4,100 for purchase of equipment and another Rs 4,100 for purchase of raw materials.
Source : India Today, June 10,2021