Chandigarh, March 26 (IANS) The Punjab government has sought a comprehensive relief package, as special central assistance, of Rs.717 crore to compensate the state's farmers for losses caused by damage to their standing rabi crops due to recent untimely rains and hailstorms.
In the letter to the central agriculture secretary, Punjab's Commissioner (Agriculture) Balwinder Singh Sidhu has urged for grant of this compensation, a state government spokesman said here on Thursday.
"This would not only encourage the farmers in this hour of crisis but would lead them to work harder for ensuring food security of the nation," Sidhu said in his letter.
The state government has pointed out that rain and hailstorms affected standing field crops in over 2.60 lakh hectares, fodder crops in nearly 24,000 hectares, and horticulture crops in over 10,000 hectares in the months of February-March.
"In order to compensate the farmers for the losses suffered, a compensation at the rate of Rs.3,600 per acre was being provided by the state government due to high input cost incurred by the farmers and excessive damage to rabi crops. The compensation needs to be enhanced to Rs.10,000 per acre," the letter stated.
It contended that compensation under existing norms was too less and farmers would not be able to even sow the next crop, leave alone recover the cost of the standing crop damaged by the hailstorms, heavy rains and high velocity winds.
"It was strongly felt that the farmers needed to be adequately compensated in this hour of crisis," the letter read.
Indian-made trains may soon run in many Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates: First positive case in Chhattisgarh; numbers soar to 169 in India
कोरोनावायरस (COVID-19) à¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¤ नवीनतम समाचार à
Maldives Opposition Party boycott President Speech: Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu has announ
Tarek Fatah Died: Famous writer Tarek Fateh passed away, was ill for a long time
Famous writer of Pakistani origin Tariq Fateh passed away. He was running ill for a long time. He
North Korea fired 10 missiles, South Korea issued an air strike alert
North Korea has fired missiles once again. North Korea fired 10 missiles one by one on Wednesday,
The people living on rent will have to pay GST or not, the government has made some rules regardi
Got a big clue in the Sushant case? NCB finds link between drug paddlers, Samuel and Rhea's brother
A major development is coming up in the investigation of the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. In
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has disclosed the Pharmacist Umesh Kolhe Murder Case in A
The Government of India has launched Operation Sindhu for the safe return of Indian citizens from
IIM Ahmedabad Placement: The summer placement process for MBA Class 2024 of the Post Graduate Pro
