MARGAO
Agricultural service provider from Curtorim, Moreno Rebello, has urged the government to increase the compensation from Rs four per square metre to at least Rs 10 to help farmers tide over the huge losses.
Rebello said the heavy showers have devastated paddy in Curtorim and surrounding villages, resulting in heavy losses for the farmers.
Referring to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s announcement of a compensation package for the beleaguered farmers, Rebello said the compensation amount of Rs 40,000 per hectare will still result in losses for the farmers.
“Rs 40,000 per hectare, in effect, means Rs four per square metre. It is an open secret that a farmer spends Rs four to cultivate one square metre of land. He will benefit from the crop only if he is able to sell it at the rate of Rs 10-12 in the market. This means that the farmer will not benefit significantly if the government compensates him by paying Rs four per square metre,” he said, while urging the government to consider increasing the compensation amount to help farmers tide over the huge problem.
