Odisha: District Collectors Instructed to Accurately Evaluate Crop Damage from Unseasonal Rain

Bhubaneswar, Dec 22 (NationPress) The government under the leadership of Mohan Charan Majhi has instructed the district Collectors in Odisha, impacted by the recent unseasonal rainfall, to perform a meticulous assessment of the crop damages, as revealed by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Sunday.

During a press briefing, Minister Pujari stated: "The Collectors have been urged to execute a detailed assessment of crop losses attributed to the unseasonal rains. The evaluation process faced challenges due to the ongoing rainfall that persisted until yesterday.

"Revenue officials, including Tehsildars, Revenue Inspectors, and Amins from unaffected regions, have also been enlisted to assist in evaluating the damages in the impacted areas of the state. The assessments will be accurately conducted post the cessation of rains.

Pujari reassured the farmers that the state government is committed to providing sufficient compensation for their crop losses and will also facilitate the sale of any remaining crops. He noted that he is prepared to personally visit affected regions if necessary.

In the meantime, the state administration has encouraged farmers who have insured their Kharif crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Kharif -2024) to report any crop losses due to the unseasonal rainfall to receive the insurance compensation.

According to a press release from the state government, the harvested crops of farmers from various coastal and interior districts—such as Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Boudh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Khordha, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Nawrangpur, Nayagarh, Puri, and Raygada—are likely to have suffered damage due to the recent rainfall over the last two days.

"Approximately 15 lakh farmers from these districts are registered under the scheme. Farmers who have insured their Kharif crops under PMFBY (Kharif -2024) must report the loss of their harvested crops to claim insurance compensation," stated the release.

Farmers have been advised to submit details of their crop loss using the “Krishi Rakshak” App within 72 hours of the loss or to contact the help line at No 14447.

The state government also mentioned that post-harvest losses are covered under the PMFBY - Crop Insurance Scheme, provided that the losses occurred in a cut and spread condition or in small bundles within 14 days following harvest.

Insurance compensation will be dispensed to farmers after a joint inspection of the affected fields by officials from the implementing insurance companies and government representatives.

Compensation will be awarded to insured farmers based on the comprehensive sum insured, contingent upon the extent of the loss.