Bhubaneswar: In response to widespread crop damage caused by unseasonal rains between December 20 and 28, the Odisha government has rolled out a compensation package of Rs.291.59 crore from the state disaster response fund (SDRF). Chief Minister Mohan Majhi made the announcement, confirming that the funds would be disbursed immediately through the direct benefit transfer (DBT) system to ensure quick and transparent relief for affected farmers.
Over 6.66 lakh farmers have reported crop losses exceeding 33% across 2.26 lakh hectares, with 2.61 lakh of these farmers covered under crop insurance. This follows the government’s previous announcement to identify all farmers impacted by the unseasonal rains by December 30, regardless of their insurance status.
The unseasonal rains, which occurred in two phases during the harvesting period, caused severe flooding in many fields, damaging crops such as paddy, vegetables, and betel leaves. The prolonged exposure to water caused grains to sprout, making them unsuitable for sale. This unexpected damage has led to significant financial losses for farmers, many of whom had taken loans for the season and now face mounting debts they are unable to repay.
During a tour of the affected districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, and Nayagarh, CM Majhi observed the extensive damage firsthand. Meanwhile, other ministers also visited various rain-hit regions on December 29 to assess the situation.
The government’s compensation announcement comes amidst ongoing farmer protests over irregularities in paddy procurement and the recent tragic deaths of seven farmers in the past week, including three suicides and four deaths from cardiac arrest.
