The Gujarat government has unveiled a relief package worth ₹1,419 crore for farmers ahead of the Diwali festival which aims to assist over 7 lakh farmers across 20 districts who have suffered crop damage due to excessive rainfall in August this year.

The relief package will benefit farmers cultivating approximately 8.5 lakh hectares of land. The government’s announcement comes in response to the substantial losses reported following severe weather conditions, prompting the introduction of this special assistance program.

Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel explained that the package comprises ₹1,419.62 crore in total assistance, including provisions from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The state government has also allocated additional funds from its budget to address the severity of the losses experienced by farmers.

Seasonal rainfall has surpassed 100% in Gujarat, with some areas still experiencing downpours, further damaging crops. This deluge has created a shortage of vegetables in the market, driving prices to new heights. Tomatoes sell for ₹120 per kg, onions at ₹70, ginger at ₹140, and potatoes at ₹50 per kg.

The assistance will extend across 136 talukas and 6,812 villages, impacting districts such as Panchmahal, Navsari, Surendranagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Kheda, Anand, Vadodara, Morbi, Jamnagar, Kutch, Tapi, Dahod, Rajkot, Dang, Ahmedabad, Bharuch, Junagadh, Surat, Patan, and Chhota Udaipur.

Out of the total relief package, ₹1,097.31 crore will be disbursed through SDRF, while ₹322.33 crore will be provided from the state budget. The government has noted that a survey of damages caused in September and October is still pending, and additional relief measures may be considered once that assessment is complete.

Furthermore, the Agriculture Minister confirmed that the central government has been notified about the broader losses affecting agriculture and livestock, estimated at around ₹9,000 crore. A memorandum detailing these losses has already been submitted to the central authorities.

(This story was taken from a syndicated feed, and edited only for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital staff)

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