How Many Farmers in Gujarat Are Seeking Relief After Unseasonal Rains?
Key Takeaways
- 57,000 farmers have applied for government relief.
- The deadline for applications is November 28.
- A ₹10,000-crore relief package has been announced.
- Unseasonal rains have impacted Kharif crops.
- Authorities estimate 70% of applications have been processed.
Ahmedabad, Nov 24 (NationPress) The application process for government aid in response to crop damage caused by unseasonal rains is currently underway in the Botad district of Gujarat.
As reported by District Agriculture Officer U.J. Patel, approximately 57,000 farmers have completed their applications within a span of just 10 days.
The application initiative commenced on November 14, and from that afternoon until November 24, the number of submissions has risen significantly across the district.
Officials estimate that 70% of the total applications have been processed, while 30% of farmers have yet to submit their forms. A survey covering 189 villages indicated that crop damage exceeded 33% in 178,611 patches, qualifying these farmers for compensation.
U.J. Patel has encouraged all farmers who have not yet applied to do so before the final deadline of November 28, stressing that failure to meet this date may result in a lack of essential financial assistance.
Previously, the Gujarat government unveiled a ₹10,000-crore relief package aimed at supporting farmers whose Kharif crops were severely impacted by what Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel termed “the worst unseasonal rains in two decades.”
This announcement came just ahead of the state's procurement of key Kharif crops, such as groundnut, moong, urad, and soybean, at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), a purchase endeavor estimated to be worth over ₹15,000 crore.
During a tour of the affected areas with senior ministers, CM Patel affirmed the government's commitment to stand by farmers during this natural disaster.
“With utmost sensitivity, we are here for our farmers during these challenging times,” he stated in an official communication.
This latest relief package follows a prior announcement of ₹947 crore allocated for crop losses resulting from the prolonged monsoon rains in August and September, which had a devastating effect on districts like Junagadh, Panchmahal, Kutch, Patan, and the newly formed Vav–Tharad.
This round of unseasonal rains has predominantly affected farmers in Saurashtra and South Gujarat, where Kharif crops were nearly ready for harvest.
Government estimates indicate that the rains in October caused damage across 42 lakh hectares of farmland in 16,000 villages, significantly impacting the state's agricultural sector.