Mahayuti govt reduces crop compensation after increasing it before elections

MUMBAI: The Mahayuti govt has reduced the compensation it used to give farmers for crop losses due to unseasonal rains and other natural calamities. It did this by rolling back an order that increased the compensation, which was issued in January 2024 before the Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state.

The hike was announced when the Mahayuti govt was led by Eknath Shinde.The directive to reduce the compensation and bring it back on par with Central govt norms on relief was issued last week, just a few days after heavy rains extensively damaged crops in the state.In 2024, the state increased the amount of land eligible for compensation from 2 hectares to 3 hectares. It increased the compensation for non-irrigated crops from Rs 8,500 to Rs 13,600 per hectare.

Compensation for irrigated crops was increased from Rs 17,000 to Rs 27,000 per hectare. For horticulture and cash crops, it was increased from Rs 22,500 to Rs 36,000 per hectare.The compensation area and amount will now be reversed to the earlier rates. Also, the subsidy shall be admissible only once for the entire season for compensation for damage to agricultural crops.The new govt resolution issued states, “In view of the recent agricultural losses caused by unseasonal rains, drought, and floods in the state, it has been decided to provide subsidy as per the instructions of the National Disaster Management Authority after a discussion in the cabinet meeting held on May 27.”

To provide for additional compensation, the state used to contribute more money beyond the compensation given as per National Disaster Relief Fund norms. Compensation for calamities is paid through the State Disaster Relief Fund, which receives 75% of its funds from the Centre and 25% from the state.Farmer groups accuse the govt of cheating farmers. “They promised higher compensation before elections and then rolled it back. This is cheating and it shows that the govt is anti-farmer,” said Rajan Kshirsagar from the Kisan Sabha. “Natural calamities are driven by climate change and are only going up. The govt needs to stand by its farmers,” he said.