State's Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Minister, Badal , while expressing concern over the below-average rainfall and depleting water level in the district, held a meeting with the officials of the Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Department of the district.
In the meeting held in Garhwa, circuit house where the Agriculture Minister took stock of the average rainfall in the district, the current status of agricultural works including planting, transplanting, etc., from the officials of the concerned department. Minister said that this year Garhwa district is looking like a drought due to lack of rain. He discussed many important points with the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Deputy Development Commissioner regarding the declaration of Garhwa district as drought and gave many important instructions regarding the report to be prepared for the same.
The minister directed available benefits to the farmers by the state's new proposed scheme “Jharkhand State Crop Relief Scheme”. He said that this scheme is not a crop insurance scheme but a compensation scheme provided to the farmers in case of crop damage. This will fulfill the resolve* of providing a security cover to the farmers in case of crop loss due to natural calamity and providing a certain financial assistance. Be aware that "Jharkhand State Crop Relief Scheme" will cover both the land owner and the landless farmer. Farmers will not be required to pay any kind of crop insurance premium under this scheme and they will be provided financial assistance directly by the government in the event of crop loss. This assistance will be given to the farmers only in case of loss of at least 20% crop damage. With this, compensation for crop loss in land up to a maximum of 5 acres will be given. An assistance of Rs.3000 per acre for 20% loss and Rs.20,000 for maximum loss of 5 acres will be given. In this, according to the rules, farmers will be given relief on the basis of percentage of crop loss per acre.
The minister also discussed the fodder arrangement for the animals affected by less rainfall. He said that farmers may also have to face the problem of fodder for livestock due to drought. A road map should be prepared for the purpose that the residents of the district should not face any such problem in future, under which fodder will be provided to the animals through cattle camp after the district is declared dry. He instructed the District Animal Husbandry Officer to prepare an action plan in this context by mapping all the animals of the district block wise and also told the Deputy Commissioner to do its intensive monitoring.
The meeting was mainly attended by Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Gholap, Superintendent of Police Anjani Kumar Jha, Deputy Development Commissioner Rajesh Kumar Rai, District Agriculture Officer Ramashray Ram, District Cooperative Officer Amita Kumari, District Animal Husbandry Officer Dr Dhanik Lal Mandal, District Public Relations Officer Saket Kumar Pandey, Atma Yogendra Kumar and public representatives were present from the department.
