Bihar govt approves Rs 518 crore for farmers affected by rains, hailstorm

The Bihar government on Tuesday approved Rs 518.42 crore for farmers whose crop has been damaged due to untimely rains and hailstorm in the first two weeks of March. The money would be transferred directly into the accounts of the affected farmers immediately, said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the chief minister. The affected farmers will be given Rs 13,500 per hectare if the damage is 33 per cent and above, an official statement said.

The agriculture department, which carried out a survey to assess the magnitude of crop damage in the state, in its report said that untimely rains and hailstorm have damaged crops above 33 per cent in 3,84,016.71 hectares of land.

As per the disaster relief criteria, agriculture input subsidy is paid at the rate of Rs 13,500 per hectare to farmers when crop damage is assessed at 33 per cent and above, the statement said.

The chief minister had on March 16 announced in the assembly that all affected farmers will be provided agriculture input subsidy at the earliest for the crop damage suffered due to untimely rains in the first and second week of March.

Rabi crop has been damaged in all the districts of the state due to untimely rains, he had said.

In February, crop on 31,929 hectares of land was damaged in 11 districts due to untimely rains and hailstorm, Kumar said, adding that the government had sanctioned Rs 60 crore for the affected farmers.

(Image source - PTI)