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Bhopal, Oct 20 (IANS) In a sweeping move to support farmers battling crop damage caused by heavy monsoon rains in August and September 2025, the Gujarat government has announced a massive relief package totaling Rs 947 crore.
The decision, taken by Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel and unveiled by Agriculture Minister Jitubhai Wadhani, reflects the state’s commitment to protecting the farming community, agricultural livelihoods and ensuring resilience against climate-induced challenges.
The relief includes Rs 563 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and an additional Rs 384 crore from the state budget.
The assistance will be extended to farmers in 18 talukas of five districts – Junagadh, Panchmahal, Kutch, Patan and Vav-Tharad – where the survey in 800 villages has revealed widespread damage to kharif crops, including millets, cotton, groundnuts, pulses, vegetables and perennial horticultural produce like pomegranates.
Farmers whose crops have suffered losses of 33 percent or more will get graded compensation. Rs 12,000 per hectare will be given for non-irrigated crops, while Rs 22,000 per hectare will be given for irrigated crops. Perennial horticulture crops will get Rs 27,500 per hectare.
In each case, assistance is limited to two hectares per farmer account. In another initiative, the government has also announced a separate provision of Rs 2,500 crore to address chronic waterlogging in low-lying areas of Vav-Tharad and Patan districts.
These areas prone to frequent floods will benefit from long-term flood mitigation projects.
If necessary, the allocation can be increased to Rs 5,000 crore or more. Additionally, affected farmers in these areas will get Rs 20,000 per hectare for land reclamation, again subject to a limit of two hectares.
Minister Vadhani said that even during Diwali, Chief Minister Patel held meetings with various officials and MLAs to give priority to the welfare of farmers.
The relief package is not only timely but also generous, he said, reflecting the government’s proactive approach in dealing with natural disasters and ensuring that Gujarat’s farmers remain supported, safe and productive.
–IANS
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