Nisarga cyclone: Maharashtra to compensate farmers for crop losses

State govt is currently assessing losses, will announce package after a few days

The government of Maharashtra is working on strategies to compensate the loss caused to farmers due to crop damage in the Nisarga cyclone that had hit the state on Wednesday.

With its epicentre in Raigad, state capital Mumbai narrowly escaped the impact of the cyclone which hit Maharashtra after over a century -- 108 years to be precise. 

But Nisarga has severely damages horticulture and floriculture crops in Pune, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Raigad districts, leaving thousands of farmers in economic distress. While the larger farmers can survive, smaller ones would be trapped under debt once the moratorium period ends in August.

“The government has taken serious note of the damage done to the horticulture and floriculture crops in Pune, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Raigad districts. We are currently assessing the quantum of damage, and would complete the process in a few days, after which the compensation will be announced,” said Eknath Dhawale, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government Maharashtra. 

  

Cyclone ‘Nisarga’ came at a time when large parts of the state were already grappling with locust swarms about a week ago.

According to Idrees Saifee, Director, Vibrant Fresh Farms LLP, a Pune based rose grower, the cyclone had damaged not just floriculture plants, but also solar panels, polyethylene house covers and other green house project inputs. He sais his firm had incurred a total loss of Rs 2.5 crore. 

 

Like Saifee, many farmers have lost entire crops, leaving thereby no productive job left in the field. 

“Many farmers have borrowed loan from moneylenders and co-operative banks at very high interest rates. They would have no option but to suffer. Since, the demand of loan repayment would resume in three months, many farmers may find difficult servicing the debt,” said Saifee.

The worst in floriculture farming like rose is that farmers can get crop insurance of upto 100 per cent in the first year which goes down to 50 per cent in second year. The insurance companies do not provide any further insurance to floriculture crops like rose third year onwards.

  

“Huge quantity of fruits and vegetables that awaited harvesting due to labour shortage and nationwide lockdown to prevent spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) got damaged. Fruits like mango, banana, coconut, grapes etc got severely damaged. Other crops like maize, bitter gourd, tomato and other vegetable crops were destroyed. We need government’s help to stay in business during this difficult times,” said Sriram Gadhave, President, Vegetable Growers Association of India (VGAI), a Pune - based representative body of vegetable growers.

Farmers are seeking interest free working capital loan, some financial grants for survival till next crops, waiver in school fess of their kids etc.

Relief Plan

* Maharashtra govt working in strategies to compensate crop damage in Nisarga cyclone

* Assessment of crop damage in currently underway, to be announced compensation soon

* Massive horticulture and floriculture crops reported to have damaged in Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts

* Farmers seek full compensation and cash incentives for livelihood till next sowing