THE Maharashtra Government will give financial assistance up to three hectares of land to farmers who have suffered crop losses due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms in the last few days, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday. A Cabinet Minister separately said the quantum of aid will be decided after completing the ongoing crop damage assessment exercise. Unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms last weekend have damaged crops on nearly one lakh hectares of land in different parts of Maharashtra, including Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, Shinde said on Monday, citing preliminary estimates.

 

During a state Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Shinde directed officials of revenue and agriculture departments to conduct ‘panchanamas’ (surveys) of crop losses in a coordinated way. “Panchanamas are taking place on a war-footing. A decision has been taken to give relief up to three hectares. The government is committed to stand by farmers,” the CM told reporters after the meeting. He said all District Guardian Ministers must visit affected farmers along with officials from departments concerned.