the goan I network
PANAJI
Finally putting a figure to the losses suffered by farmers across the state due to the recent floods, the government on Tuesday said crops grown on a total of 1,920 hectares had been affected and around 6,336 farmers suffered losses to the tune of Rs 9 crore.
“Zonal agricultural officers have assessed the damage caused by floods. Crops grown on a total of 1,920 hectares of land by 6,336 farmers have been destroyed due to the recent floods in the state causing loss to the tune of Rs 9 crore”, DyCM and Agriculture Minister Babu Kavlekar said.
Disclosing that farmers from Pernem taluka had been affected the most, Kavlekar said crops grown on 598 hectares of land were submerged in flood waters causing a loss of Rs 2.81 crore to around 1,762 farmers in the area.
In North Goa, the losses were pegged at Rs 6.74 crore while the loss estimated for South Goa was Rs 2.3 core.
In North Goa, while 480 Bicholim farmers suffered loss of Rs 1.70 crore, 1003 farmers in Sattari and 286 farmers in Sanquelim were hit by losses of Rs 95 lakh and Rs 32.92 lakh respectively.
In South Goa, the breakup was as follows -- Ponda (849 farmers, loss Rs 1.25 cr), Margao, Mormugao, Salcete (501 farmers, loss Rs 47.75 lakh), Dharbandora (118 farmers, loss Rs 17.75 lakh), Canacona (52 farmers, loss Rs 95,000) and Quepem (17 farmers, loss Rs 56,000).
Kavlekar said government will ensure that some part of the compensation will be given to the affected farmers before Ganesh Chaturthi. He also said that government is looking into the possibility of revising the crop-wise compensation figures.
Meanwhile, Kavlekar also held a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday evening where he said CM assured that the government would start releasing compensation to flood-affected farmers by August 25. He also said monetary help would be sought from the central government.
Assuring to double the income of farmers by 2022, Kavlekar said, “agriculture officers have been given training on central schemes and these officers can help farmers to avail of the central schemes to farmers”.
Minister for State Defence Shripad Naik who was also present said once the State government sends the assessment report to the central government, he will pursue the matter to get compensation amount as early as possible.
