Govt assures relief to rain affected farmers

MARGAO, NOV 11
There’s good news for the farmers days after their crop was badly damaged in the unseasonal rains.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Thursday issued instructions to the Director of Agriculture to conduct a survey of the losses suffered by farmers of the state during unseasonal rains that hit the state earlier this week.
Saying that monsoons have caused havoc and destruction to the farmers, Kamat said the survey should be completed within eight days and promised to disburse the relief by November month end.
He was speaking at the concluding day of the three-day Krishi Mahotsav organized by the Agriculture department at the SGPDA grounds. “If required, I have told the Agriculture Director to seek the assistance of the talathis, mamlatdars and even the village sarpanchas to assess the losses suffered by the farmers”, he said, adding that the monetary relief will be provided to the farmers under the disaster management and the Xetkari Aadhar Nidhi scheme.
Making an appeal to the farmers to ensure that not even one of the affected farmer is left out, Kamat said the Agriculture department should seek the help of the village Sarpanch to identify the victims, specially the small and marginal farmers. “The big farmers don’t require any assistance as they are connected politically. We have to find out the most deserving cases amongst the lot”, he added.
Saying that Agriculture Minister, Vishvajeet Rane and Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco have drawn attention of the government to the huge losses suffered by the farmers, Kamat said that even the government would consider compensating the farmers for the loss to the seeds. “It is the duty and responsibility of the government to protect the interests of the farming community. My government will not shy away from compensating the affected farmers”, Kamat added.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister exhorted the farming community to avail of the huge subsidies and other facilities provided by the government for the purchase of machinery and implements.
In his address, Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco appreciated the concern shown by the Chief Minister and the Agriculture Minister, besides officials of the Agriculture department to help boost agriculture production in the state.
Saying that people are consuming artificial vegetables, the Curtorim MLA has called upon the government to give the much-needed push to the cultivation of vegetables in the state.