Raghavji Patel

In response to the widespread crop damage caused by excessive rainfall in July this year, the Gujarat government has announced an agricultural relief package worth ₹350 crore to affected farmers.

Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel made this announcement in the state assembly today.

Patel said, “Due to heavy rainfall in 45 talukas across Junagadh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Rajkot, Anand, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari, and Tapi districts in July, over 10.05 lakh acres of land were affected. After conducting a detailed survey by forming 272 teams in these affected areas, assistance will be provided to over 1.50 lakh farmers.”

Regarding the norms set for assisting farmers, the minister said, “Affected farmers will be assisted with crop damage as per the norms of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Additionally, considering the severity of the damage, additional top-up assistance will be provided from the state funds/under the state budget.”

According to Patel, the norms set by the state government for this assistance are as follows:

For non-irrigated crops sown in the Kharif 2024-25 season, with a damage of 33% or more, the assistance of ₹8,500 as per SDRF norms and ₹2,500 from the state budget, totalling ₹11,000 per hectare (₹27,181 per acre), will be provided up to a maximum of 2 hectares (4.94 acres) per holding.

For perennial or irrigated crops with a damage of 33% or more, the assistance of ₹17,000 as per SDRF norms and ₹5,000 from the state budget, totalling ₹22,000 per hectare (₹54,363 per acre), will be provided up to a maximum of 2 hectares per holding.

For perennial horticultural crops with a damage of 33% or more, the assistance of ₹22,500 per hectare (₹55,598 per acre) will be provided up to a maximum of 2 hectares per holding per SDRF norms.

The minister further stated, “We have also received reports of extensive damage to horticultural crops like chikoo and mango due to heavy rains accompanied by a whirlwind in Gandevi taluka of Navsari district on July 2, resulting in the trees being uprooted. Significant assistance has also been announced for such affected farmers.”

Additionally, in cases where the amount payable per the prescribed norms based on landholding is less than ₹3,500, a minimum of ₹3,500 will be paid per holding. The difference in this assistance from SDRF will be paid from the state budget.

The concerned district administration will publish a list of affected villages for providing assistance, for which affected farmers from their respective villages having the prescribed damage should apply on the digital Gujarat portal with documentary evidence at the e-Gram centre.