Solapur declared drought-hit, but per-hectare aid for farmers yet to be announced
The state has declared drought in Solapur district, but has not said how much aid per hectare farmers will get for their damaged crops.
Failed rain in this year's kharif season has dealt farmers in Solapur district a heavy loss. Low rainfall stunted crop growth. In many places crops dried up and withered, while in some areas farmers had to uproot their crops and sow again.
In view of the situation, the government has declared drought in Solapur district. Panchnamas (official damage assessments) of the affected crops are still under way. However, the state government has not yet announced how much aid per hectare will be given for the damaged crops. This has left farmers increasingly anxious.
A large area in the district was sown in the kharif season, but erratic rain and long dry spells hurt the crops. According to an initial estimate, crops on about five lakh hectares have been damaged. Several kharif crops, including soyabean, moong, urad, bajra and maize, have been affected. Sugarcane has also been badly hit by the shortage of water.
Farmers are discussing how much aid per hectare the government will fix for soyabean, moong, urad, sugarcane and other crops. For now, the administration is carrying out panchnamas of the affected areas.
Once the actual damage is recorded in the panchnamas, proposals for aid will be drawn up on that basis. It will therefore be important for farmers that the panchnama is accurate and that the affected area is properly recorded. The form of the state government's aid will also depend on the rules for assistance from the Centre in drought conditions and on the funds received. The state is therefore also watching how much aid comes from the Centre. As a result, farmers in drought-hit districts, including Solapur, are waiting for the announcement of the exact compensation amount and crop-wise aid rates.
In many areas the condition of crops is serious, and farmers did not get the yield they expected from the kharif season. Even the cost of cultivation was not recovered, deepening the financial distress. In such a situation, government aid will be a major support for farmers. An announcement on the form of drought aid and crop-wise assistance is expected after October 15. Along with the completion of panchnamas, it remains to be seen when the government announces the aid package and how much each crop gets. Farmers in Solapur are keeping a close watch on this.
Even though drought has been declared, the recording of the affected area will remain essential for actual aid. Farmers should therefore stay in touch with the administration to ensure the real damage to their fields is properly recorded in the panchnama. Along with farmers, the general public is also waiting to know when and how much aid will be given now that drought has been declared.
