Govt to compensate farmers
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
Agriculture Department has decided to pay compensation of Rs 15,000 per acre for the farmers affected due to natural calamities in the State.
For this, Goa Government has already sanctioned a corpus of Rs 2.13 crore under the Farmers Assistance Fund.
Agriculture Director, Satish Tendulkar told Herald that the distressed farmers are asked to contact their respective Zonal Agriculture Officers (ZAO) to complete formalities for compensation.
“The process has already started…farmers are advised to contact the ZAO in their respective areas,” he said.
The relief scheme will first give financial assistance to farmers affected by natural calamities in March 2008 and gradually it will cover farmers who suffered due to unseasoned rainfall in October 2009 and November 2010.
Tendulkar said that before the scheme came into force, the department had received application from more than 5000 affected farmers. The worst affected areas were Quepem, Pernem and Salcete.
With the enforcement, these farmers are now asked to fill up fresh forms accompanied with documentary evidences showing land ownership.
“Those farmers who have already given applications are asked to fill in fresh forms and give documentary support towards the ownership of the land,” the officer said adding that financial assistance would be released to an affected farmer within 15 days after thorough scrutiny by the ZAO and Agriculture Department.
However, if any farmer has already received compensation under the National Calamity Relief Fund, Tendulkar said, under the Goa Government scheme the amount will be deducted and the farmer will be paid the balance amount.
