Panaji: The heavy rain and flooding has resulted into loss of Ra 10 crore to farmers across the State.
Almost 1300 hectares of crops belonging to over 2900 farmers, majority of them from Bardez, Bicholim and Pernem taluka, has been destroyed due to flooding.
Speaking to reporters, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for agriculture Chandrakant Kavlekar said that as per agriculture department report, the total crop loss is estimated to the tune of Rs 10 crore.
He said that the damage caused mostly due to opening of dam gates of Tillari.
Kavlekar had on Wednesday visited flood affected areas of the three talukas and interacted with farmers, whose farms has been destroyed.
Deputy CM said that following request from the farmers, government is considering increasing the crop damage compensation rate from Rs 25,000 per hectares to Rs 40,000 per hectares for paddy and Rs 800-1000 per banana tree from existing Rs 400.
In Pernem, total 1300 farmers with farm area of 580 hectares has been damaged with total loss of Ra 2.5 crore. In Bicholim, 700 farmers are affected, with loss to 400 hectares of crops estimated at Rs 2 crore.
In Bardez, the total loss is of Rs 1 crore to 875 farmers, who crops of 265 hectares are damaged.
“We also feel that the rates given are very low and as a special case, needs to be increased,” he said.
“We will ensure that maximum compensation is given to the farmers for their crops,” he said.
