The Kerala government has requested the Centre to release approximately ₹110 crore in emergency financial assistance to mitigate losses to the farm sector caused by the torrential rain and floods that ravaged large parts of the State over the last week, according to Minister for Agriculture T. Siddique.
The losses sustained by the agricultural sector were estimated at around ₹99.29 crore as of Thursday evening, Mr. Siddique said, adding that 36,829 farmers had been affected and about 3,264 hectares of agricultural land had been impacted by the heavy rain and subsequent floods. This devastating impact has prompted the state to seek immediate relief from the Centre.
Minister T. Siddique has sent a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, requesting him to immediately release an emergency assistance of ₹110 crore to tide over the ongoing crisis. The Minister also plans to visit Kuttanad on Sunday to take stock of the heavy loss to the agricultural sector in the region, followed by a review meeting in Alappuzha.
To support farmers who have incurred losses, a meeting of nationalised and co-operative banks will be held on Monday to discuss a special financial scheme to help resume their agricultural work. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture will open about 2,000 fairs to check the rise in prices of vegetables in connection with the Onam festival, with the government earmarking around ₹20 crore towards this initiative under the Horticorp and Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam.
The Cabinet has also approved a proposal to increase the assistance for crop loss given to farmers by 25%, as part of the state’s efforts to provide relief to the affected agricultural sector.
