Centre approves Rs 2,801 cr for UP’s rain-hit farmers

 During the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Apna Dal had won 73 of 80 seats in UP, where 73 districts were affected by <g data-gr-id="39">hailstorm</g>.

The amount was sanctioned after examining the report of a central team, which had visited the <g data-gr-id="33">hailstorm-hit</g> areas in the state. The funds will be given to the state government, which will distribute the compensation amount to farmers based on <g data-gr-id="37">the quantity of</g> damaged crops, sources said.

The NDA government has changed the norms for giving compensation to farmers whose crops were damaged. Now, those farmers whose crops are damaged up to 33 per cent will be <g data-gr-id="36">entitled for</g> compensation. Earlier it was limited <g data-gr-id="32">upto</g> 50 per cent.

The Centre has made changes in the norms to purchase shrivelled grains and tweaked the standards on moisture content to help farmers.

The move is aimed at ensuring that farmers cultivating wheat get the full minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1,450 per quintal.

According to the new norms, farmers in rain-fed areas will be eligible to claim assistance in the form of input subsidy of Rs 6,800 per hectare against the earlier Rs 4,500.

Compensation for crops in areas with assured irrigation has been increased from Rs 9,000 to Rs 13,500 per hectare, and that for perennial (horticultural) crops from Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000 per hectare. The relief is subject to a cap of two hectares per farmer. 

According to official data, crop damage due to unseasonal rain and hailstorm has been reported in 106 lakh hectares in 13 states, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, UP, MP and Maharashtra, in the current rabi season. The Centre had already asked state governments to render immediate assistance to farmers from SDRF.