GUJARAT - Raghavji Patel, the State Agriculture Minister, announced a substantial relief package of Rs 240 crore on Friday to support farmers in the Kutch and Banaskantha districts severely impacted by the recent Cyclone Biparjoy.
The cyclone wreaked havoc across several districts of Gujarat, causing considerable damage to agricultural crops, homes, and livestock. Kutch and Banaskantha bore the brunt of the devastation, prompting calls for a comprehensive relief package.
Patel's announcement came in response to these urgent appeals, at a press conference where he outlined the measures intended to provide financial relief for affected farmers. The relief package would only be extended to farmers who have incurred losses exceeding 10 percent.
"Agriculture teams have been surveying the extent of the damage. The findings suggest that Cyclone Biparjoy has led to the destruction of 1.30 thousand hectares of crops," Patel said. He added that horticulture and irrigated crops have suffered particularly high damages, with more than a third being wiped out by the storm.
The relief package includes assistance of Rs 25,000 per hectare from the state fund for losses related to horticulture crops. This applies specifically to damages where there is a 10 percent or more falling of perennial horticulture crops, or uprooting and breaking of trees up to 33 percent. For losses exceeding 33 percent, Rs 22,500 per hectare will be provided as per SDRF norms, subject to a ceiling of Rs 1,25,000 per hectare.
The minister stressed that the extent of assistance is contingent on the damage survey report, and it will be capped at a maximum of two hectares per account. As the relief efforts unfold, Gujarat's farming community looks forward to recovering from the devastating impact of Cyclone Biparjoy.
