Flood hit Bihar farmers to be compensated for crop damage within a month

Compensation would be given at the rate of Rs 13,500 per hectare for irrigated land and Rs 6,000 per hectare for non-irrigated land, for a maximum of two hectares, said Bihar agriculture minister Prem Kumar.

The state government will start providing compensation for crop damages in 21 flood-hit districts within a month and also prepare a comprehensive plan to tackle silt in the fields . The recovery of agricultural loan will also remain suspended in flood affected districts, along with the collection of rent from farmers.

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Announcements to these effects were made by agriculture minister Prem Kumar on Wednesday following a review meeting on crop damages caused by the floods in the state. The minister said the farmers would be entitled to compensation for damages up to two hectares of land.

“ Compensation would be given at the rate of Rs 13,500 per hectare for irrigated land and Rs 6,000 per hectare for non-irrigated land. The compensation would be given for a maximum of two hectares,” said the minister, adding, the amount would be directly sent to accounts of beneficiary farmers.

He also informed reporters that the state government had sent an assessment report of crop damages worth Rs 1,093 crore.

The state government has sought Rs 10,000 crore from the centre for covering the damages in flood hit areas. There is a chance a central team would soon visit the state to assess the damages caused by the floods. The flash floods had affected 1.71 crore population in 21 districts and claimed 514 lives.

Officials said at the review meeting it was also decided to provide alternative crop plans to farmers who had suffered damages to the paddy crop in the Kharif season.

“Farmers who have suffered paddy crop damages will be provided seeds of various alternative crops under the contingency crop scheme so that produce is ready before the rabi season. Efforts are being made to ensure that fields submerged under flood water start producing crops after the water recedes and there is production before the rabi season,” said a senior officer.

The state agricultural officials would also undertake survey of fields in the flood hit areas and prepare a comprehensive plan to tackle the problem of silt as done in Kosi flood hit districts following the deluge in 2008. Farmers whose fields had high silt deposition would be given assistance to remove it and use the fields for growing new crops.