Crop loss compensation of ₹82.6 crore given to 92,630 farmers of Koppal district

KOPPAL: The crop loss compensation for the farmers of the district, who suffered from severe drought has begun to be deposited.

Currently, Rs 82.6 crore has been disbursed through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to the accounts of 92,630 farmers who have suffered crop loss across 2.5 lakh hectares.

During the monsoon and winter seasons last year, the farmers of the district suffered a lot due to severe drought. Many farmers even committed suicide as the sown crops did not rise from the ground.

That year, 2.9 lakh hectares were sown in the monsoon season, out of which 2.5 lakh hectares suffered crop loss. Of this, 2.3 lakh hectares were under agriculture crops, while 11,975 hectares were under horticulture crops. A total of Rs 1,437 crore worth of crops were damaged.

After this, the state govt declared seven taluks of the district as drought-affected. According to the disaster management norms, the district administration had submitted a report to the government that there was a crop loss of Rs 216 crore. However, the farmers were in dire straits as the central government did not release grants.

Rushing to help the farmers, the state government deposited Rs 2,000 each in the accounts of 1,02,000 farmers of the district 4 months ago. Now, a week ago, the Centre released drought relief and distribution of relief is going on based on FID. A total 92,630 farmers in the district have received Rs 82.6 crore as drought relief so far, says Rudreshappa TS, joint director of the agriculture department.

Deputy commissioner Nalin Atul said that there are 2.5 lakh farmers in the district and 92,630 dry land farmers registered in the Farmer Registration and Unified Beneficiary Information System (FRUITS) software have been given compensation of Rs 8,500 per hectare up to 2 hectares each.

Due to non-registration in FRUITS software, non-creation of FID (Farmer ID), and non-confirmation of Aadhaar and e-KYC, there has been a delay in crediting money to the accounts of some farmers.

To help such people, a helpline has been started under the respective tahsildar of the taluk, and the affected farmers have been facilitated to get relief, he said.