The unseasonal rains in Gujarat has damaged various crops in about 1.80 lakh hectares of area spreading in 24 districts of the state, informed the Chief Minister Anandiben Patel during a meeting with the Union Urban Development Minister, Venkaiah Naidu on Monday.
The Chief Minister appealed to the Union Minister to relax the norms of calamity relief fund and provide assistance to the farmers in case of even 25-50 per cent damage to the crop. The move is aimed at covering maximum number of affected farmers in the state.
In a meeting with the Chief Minister, Naidu assessed the condition of hailstorm-affected farmers across the state. Naidu assured of all possible assistance to the farmers. High-level committee of the Union ministers will assess the overall situation and will decide about assistance to the states, informed Naidu.
The Union Minister also added that the government is considering various schemes like Crop Insurance Scheme, Village Warehouse, Soil Health Card and Cold Storage to provide long-term solution to the farmers.
The minister also assessed the financial loss to the cotton farmers and reviewed the availability of urea fertilizer in the state.