Bulbul aftermath: Survey to find quantum of damage to paddy

Kolkata: The state Agriculture department may conduct a survey to ascertain the quantum of damage to paddy cultivation and other crops in various districts caused by cyclone 'Bulbul' that hit the coastal districts late on Saturday evening.

According to sources in the department, the officials from each affected district will visit the places where maximum crops have been damaged. The officials will ascertain the loss that paddy farmers are facing in the districts. They will also examine to ascertain whether the farmers producing other food grains had suffered any such loss. After assessing the situation, the department officials may submit a report to the top officials. The government is yet to decide if it will announce compensation for the affected farmers.

"The paddy farmers in various districts have lost their crops due to the cyclone. The farmers who are among the worst-hit belong to East Burdwan, Hooghly, Nadia, East Midnapore, North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas. An incessant overnight rain further complicated the situation.

The Agriculture department officials suspect that a few more districts might have been affected. It will come to light after a thorough survey is carried out.

The state government introduced various schemes to protect the farmers from incurring any losses caused by such incidents.

It may be mentioned that Bengal is the first state in the country to introduce crop insurance scheme, where the beneficiaries will not have to pay any amount as insurance premium in case of any natural disaster.

It has been learnt that onion cultivation in East Burdwan was badly hit due to the cyclone. Various crops in the vast parts of Khejuri, Nandigram and Ramnagar in East Midnapore were razed to the ground. It may be mentioned here that the state government has already sought a report from the district administrative officials on the extent of the damage of crops.