BICHOLIM
Stating that 380 hectares of fields have been damaged and 690 farmers have suffered losses in Bicholim taluka, Director of Agriculture Sandeep Phaldesai has said the initial loss is estimated to be around Rs 2 crore.
Phaldesai was speaking to media persons on Saturday after he had accompanied Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye and other officers to assess the losses to paddy crops on account of heavy unseasonal rains.
There has been extensive damage to paddy fields across Bicholim taluka, including Sal, Mencurem, Dhumashe and Mulgao in Bicholim constituency.
Dr Shetye said agriculture officers will visit all affected areas and prepare documents for compensation to the affected farmers.
Phaldesai said as per the government's policy, affected farmers will be provided immediate assistance of Rs 40,000 per hectare.
“We have planned to complete all the procedures at the earliest and we hope to provide assistance to all farmers by December,” said Phaldesai.
However, Meghshyam Raut, a farmer from Sal, has appealed for higher assistance of Rs 80,000 per hectare due to the huge loss suffered by the farmers.
