The state government has announced a Rs2,000 crore compensation package for farmers in distress. The package was announced by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday. He also rolled out a plan to insulate farmers from losses caused by both, market fluctuations, and natural conditions.
These initiatives did not impress the Opposition, however, which staged protests demanding that the government should clearly specify how much compensation will be given to individual farmers. The Opposition has threatened to disrupt the proceedings of the legislature from Thursday, terming the announcements an eyewash.
In response, Chavan said the government would issue a notification before the end of the ongoing session detailing the compensation rates for the farmers. This would be done after a survey is conducted for paddy and soyabean losses, he added.
Earlier, Chavan said that the Rs 2,000 crore package was the highest-ever announced by the state government, since farmers cultivating cotton, paddy and soyabean on 75 lakh hectares were in distress due to the irregular monsoon and a fall in market prices.