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However affected area where Sonia Gandhi visited is less than that where Rajnath Singh had visited. The districts have lost crop worth Rs 108 crore and Rs 200 crore, with compensation demand of Rs 30 crore and Rs 45 crore respectively, according to state government estimates.
In Jabalpur district, which suffered the highest crop loss of Rs 825 crore affecting 41,473 farmers in 1,213 villages, the compensation demand raised by the district administration was Rs 24 crore. Tribal-dominated Chhindwara district also reported crop loss in 985 villages.
According to the survey, 46,858 farmers of the Neemuch district have been affected and crop loss has been reported on 16,780 hectares in 653 villages.
Of these, 30,224 farmers are under small and marginal category, who have lost crop on 9,704 hectares. Among the affected farmers 16634 are other category farmers who have suffered crop loss on an area of 7076 hectare.
In Gwalior, 44,252 farmers in 186 villages were affected by bad weather conditions. Of the total sown area of 74,186 hectares, rabi crop on 38,428 hectares was damaged.
Among these affected farmers in Gwalior district, 36039 are small and marginal category farmers and their affected area is 25162 hectare. While 8213 other category farmers have suffered loss on an area of 13265 hectare. "The distribution of compensation would start from tomorrow," Rajora said. Each farmer is likely to get Rs 10000 per hectare at an average rate.
Barring Panna district, state government has come up with its crop loss survey and has put it at 3.45 lakh hectare in 5996 affected villages of 33 districts. The estimated loss in terms of value is at Rs 2123 crore.
"As many as 429660 farmers have suffered rabi crop loss by minimum 25% to maximum total in various districts due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm in month of March this year," Rajesh Rajora, principal secretary department of farmers welfare and agriculture development told BS, "survey is yet to be completed only in one district Panna since the district also received hailstorm in last week of March also."
Rabi crop was sown on an area of 1076881 hectare in these villages, of this 119113 hectare hectare area has suffered 25-50% crop loss leaving 187704 farmers affected, while crop loss has gone up to more than 50% on an area of 79210 hectare thereby leaving 112665 farmers affected, the survey said. All these affected farmers fall under either marginal or small category.
While other category 70693 farmers have suffered 25-50% crop loss on an area of 81892 hectare and 45488 farmers have suffered more than 50% loss on an area of 69403 hectare.
State government has earmarked an amount of Rs 500 crore but according to survey the crop loss compensation demand is at Rs 398 crore.
According to state government statement more than 18 lakh farmers were compensated with an amount of Rs 2579 crore as claim against crop insurance during 2012-13. Of this, a large portion of Rs 2187 crore was distributed as claim against crop insurance during 2013 Kharif season to 14 lakh affected farmers.
